British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Transvaal (6746 Pte. A. Horton, K.O. Sco. Bord.), extremely fine £600-700

The recipient was killed in action in a rear-guard action at Lambrechtfontein on 18 May 1901, when Lieutenant & Adjutant G. H. B. Coulson, D.S.O., also of the 1st Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers, attached 7th Mounted Infantry, won the Victoria Cross. A few days later, Colonel T. D. Pilcher wrote to Coulson’s father in the following terms:

‘You will doubtless have received news of the death of Lieutenant Coulson, and I write in the name of all the officers and men of the column which I command to tell you how sincerely we feel his loss and how much we admire the way in which he died. It may also be some poor consolation to you to know that before I heard of his death I recommended him for the Victoria Cross.

On 19 May(sic), Lieutenant Coulson, as Adjutant of the 7th Mounted Infantry, about 300 strong (which with a pom-pom was acting independently under Major Lloyd), went back to see that the camp they were leaving at Lambrechtfontein, about 15 miles south of Bothaville, was clear of ammunition. At this time the rear-guard were attacked, and the enemy pressed on them. Lieutenant Coulson rallied some men, and by his action saved a Maxim gun from falling into the enemy’s hands. He afterwards galloped closer under the enemy’s fire and got a wounded man on to his horse; the horse was shot. Corporal Shaw, Lincolnshire Regiment, helped Lieutenant Coulson on to his own horse, but after galloping a short distance felt himself hit through the back and felt Lieutenant Coulson fall off. Corporal Shaw managed to get back to our carts, though severely wounded. Colonel Godfray is giving me your address. I am asking Major Lloyd, commanding 7th Mounted Infantry, to write to you. Lieutenant Coulson’s body was buried on the scene of the action by Dr. May, whom I sent back with an ambulance. The enemy suffered more severely than Major Lloyd and his party, for six dead Boers were found in one place, and the enemy did not succeed in taking any of our convoy. Please accept my sincerest sympathy in the loss of one whom I knew as a gallant, capable and hard-working officer.’

In addition to Coulson and Horton, Lance-Corporal J. Riddle, K.O.S.B. and Private G. H. Woolam, D.L.I., were killed on the same occasion. Many years later, fragments from the memorial stone that marked their original burial site were discovered and, as a result of further research and funding, a new memorial was erected to their memory in 2003.

Sold with research, including several colour images from the unveiling of the new memorial stone.