Orders, Decorations and Medals

A mounted group of five miniature dress medals attributed to Captain Percy Hamilton Short, West African Frontier Force, late Gloucestershire Regiment

Distinguished Service Order, E.VII.R., gold and enamel, complete with gold top bar, enamel damage to wreaths; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal; Africa General Service 1902-56, 3 clasps, N. Nigeria 1903, N. Nigeria 1904, N. Nigeria 1906; British War and Victory Medals, mounted as worn, very fine (5)
£280-320

Percy Hamilton Short was born on 15 April 1874 and was educated at Wellington College. He entered the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Gloucestershire Regiment on 7 December 1895, becoming a Lieutenant in July 1898. Serving in the Boer War, he took part in operations in Natal, 1899, including the actions at Rietfontein and Lombard’s Kop, being wounded in the latter. Afterwards, he served as Railway Staff Officer. He was then employed with the West African Frontier Force, October 1901-February 1907 and served in Northern Nigeria during 1903 in the Kano-Sokoto Campaign and in the operations to the east of Zaria; and in 1904 he took part in the operations against the Pagan tribes to the north of Wase. For his services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 25 August 1905). Promoted to Captain in October 1905, he served again in Northern Nigeria during 1906 and was again mentioned in despatches and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (both London Gazette 18 September 1906); the latter awarded ‘In recognition of his services during the operations in the Munshi country’. He was again employed by the W.A.F.F., February 1908-January 1912, after which he retired from the service. During 1914-18, he was Acting District Commissioner of Bole in the Gold Coast.