Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War C.B. group of four awarded to Brigadier-General William Francis Howard Stafford, Royal Engineers

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, complete with silver-gilt buckle on ribbon; Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Lieut. W. F. H. Stafford, R.E.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lt. Col. W. F. H. Stafford, C.B., R.E.) ‘C.B., R.E.’ re-engraved; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Lt. Col. W. F. H. Stafford, C.B., R.E.) good very fine (4) £1200-1600

William Francis Howard Stafford was born on 19 December 1854, the eldest son of Major-General William Joseph Fitzmaurice Stafford, C.B. He was educated at Wellington and Woolwich. First commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 29 April 1873. His first active service was in Afghanistan when he was attached to the Bengal Sappers and Miners. Commanding a company as part of the Peshawar Field Force, he was responsible for the telegraph line connection. Stafford was present at the Lughman and Hissarak Valley operations and was mentioned in despatches. In 1881 when with the Mahsud-Waziri expedition, he received another mention. Whilst still a Subaltern he was appointed an Assistant Instructor in Surveying at the School of Military Engineering, March 1883-March 1888, being advanced to Captain in January 1885. He was promoted to Major in November 1892 and to Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1900. Serving in the Boer war he was present at the actions of Poplar Grove and Karee Siding in the Orange Free State. Thereafter he served in the Transvaal until 1902. For his services in the war, in addition to his two medals, he was mentioned in despatches and created a C.B. In 1904 he was awarded the brevet of Colonel. Stafford was promoted to Colonel in August 1906 and appointed Chief Engineer, Southern Command from that date. In 1910 he was placed on Half Pay and he retired in 1911 with the honorary rank of Brigadier-General. Offering his services once more at the time of the Great War, he was appointed Commander of the South Irish Defences, 1915-16, and was again mentioned in despatches. Brigadier-General Stafford died at Thornbury, Crowthorne, Berkshire on 8 August 1942.

With copied research.