Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Great War C.B., Boer War D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Major General J. M. Walter, C.B., C.S.I., D.S.O., Devonshire Regiment who was taken prisoner at Colenso after a gallant last stand

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) neck Badge; Distinguished Service Order, VR, both in silver-gilt and enamels; India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Captn., Devon. Regt. (1st Bn.)); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (Major, Devon. Rgt.) clasps mounted in this order; King’s South Africa 1901-1902, 2 clasps (Maj., D.S.O., Devon. Rgt.); British War and Victory Medals, with MID Oakleaf (Maj. Gen.); Delhi Durbar 1911, inscribed ‘Colonel J.M. Walter, D.S.O.’, two small chips to white enamel of C.B. and chipping to wreaths of D.S.O., campaign medals with some contact wear, generally very fine or better (8) £2000-2500

C.B. London Gazette 1916.

C.S.I. London Gazette 1918.

D.S.O. London Gazette 26 June 1902.

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 February 1898, 8 February 1901, 10 September 1901, and 18 May 1918.

Major General John McNeil Walter was born at Meerut, India on 10 June 1861. He was the son of General John McNeil Walter, C.B., Colonel of the Royal Sussex Regiment. Educated at Cheltenham College and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst entering the Army in 1880, first saw active service in India, where he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 11 February 1898) for his services on the Punjab Frontier.

During the Boer War the Devonshire Regiment entered the village of Colenso, after the Royal Artillery had got into trouble, being forced to hold their positions until the order to withdraw was given. Colonel Bullock, commanding the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment, having not realised that orders to withdraw had been issued, decided to go the aid of a number of wounded Gunners trapped in the donga. With him were two officers, including Walter, and 33 other ranks.

As soon as the enemy came into view Colonel Bullock and his men opened fire. Instead of answering fire with fire, the Boer Commander commandeered a British ambulance orderly and under the protection of the Red Cross walked up to Bullock’s position and told him the battle was over and that he should surrender. Bullock refused, demanding that his adversary should go back and fight it out, all this time British and Boer soldiers stood about watching and listening while their officers argued. The incident only ended when one exasperated burgher, shouted, ‘surrender, you brave idiot’ and clubbed Bullock on the head with his rifle.

The defence of the donga earned the praise of General Buller ‘Colonel Bullock, 2nd Devons, behaved with great gallantry. He did not receive the orders to retire, and his party defended themselves and the wounded of the two batteries till nightfall, inflicting considerable loss on the enemy, and it was only when surrounded that he consented to surrender, because the enemy said they would shoot the wounded if he did not’ (see Buller’s Despatch of 17 December 1900).

Walter was captured as a result of this action and interned in the Officer’s Prisoner of War Camp in the State Model School at Pretoria, being released upon the British occupation in June 1900. He subsequently served on the staff, including the roll of Chief Censor at Cape Town. For his services in the Boer war he was awarded the D.S.O. and Mentioned in Despatches twice (London Gazette 8 February 1901 and 10 September 1901).

Walter had the honour of commanding the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment from 1906 to 1910. During the Great War he served in a series of high ranking appointments in India, being promoted to Major-General in 1918. For his services in the First War he was awarded the C.B. and C.S.I., as well as being Mentioned in Despatches.