Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Boer War D.S.O. group of three awarded to Major C. W. M. Feilden, Royal Scots Greys, who was mortally wounded at Klippan in February 1902

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (Major, D.S.O., 2/Drgns.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Maj., D.S.O., 2/Drgns.) some chipping to wreaths of D.S.O., otherwise nearly extremely fine (3) £3000-3500

See Colour Plate III

D.S.O. London Gazette 27 September 1901: ‘In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.’

Cecil William Montagu Feilden was born in January 1863, son of Major-General Randle Joseph Feilden, C.M.G., of Witton Park, near Blackburn, Lancashire. He was educated at Eton and Sandhurst, and entered the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) in August 1882, being promoted Captain in February 1891, and Major in July 1901. He served as A.D.C. to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Cadogan, 1891-95, and as Private Secretary to Viscount Wolseley, Commander-in-Chief, 1895-97. He then returned to Ireland as Extra A.D.C. to the Lieutenant-General and Governor-General of Ireland, and held this position till he went to South Africa at the outbreak of the war. He saw much service during the campaign, having taken part in the relief of Kimberley and the subsequent advances on Bloemfontein and Pretoria. He was mentioned in despatches London Gazette 10 September 1901.

On February 18, 1902, General G. Hamilton, while operating against the Boers near Klippan, which lies to the south-east of Springs, detached half a squadron of the Scots Greys to one flank. The Boers, who were at least 500 strong, and equal in force to Hamilton, at once concentrated against this squadron, and without much difficulty cut it off from the main British force, when Major Feilden and Lieutenant Ussher were mortally wounded, Lieutenant Rhodes killed, and eight men killed or wounded, while 46 were captured. Hamilton could do nothing to give them help; he had to think rather of his own safety, and was compelled to retire to Nigel, where he was reinforced by the Malta Mounted Infantry. He then moved to Springs, and made fresh attempts to get at the Boers, but without any success. The enemy were reported to have lost only eight men in this affair, among them their commandant, Niekerk, who was slightly wounded by a shot in the knee.

The group is accompanied by a family history, The Feildens of Witton Park, which contains mentions of Major C. W. M. Feilden, who succeeded to his father’s estates in 1895, and was the largest landowner in the area.