Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Original Album of photographs, cuttings and drawings relating to Major William F. Lascelles, Scots Guards, 370 x 280mm., cloth and leather bound, leather spine missing, front cover a little slack, general wear to covers, some internal boards loose, contents generally good and interesting £100-140

William F. Lascelles was born in Berlin on 21 March 1868, the eldest son of the Rt. Hon. Sir Frank Lascelles, sometime British Ambassador to Berlin. He was commissioned into the Scots Guards on 15 May 1889, promoted to Lieutenant on 20 July 1892 and to Captain on 7 July 1899. He served as Regimental Adjutant to the Scots Guards, 13 December 1899-30 April 1900. On 1 April 1904 he attained the rank of Major.

Lascelles served as A.D.C. to the Governor General of the Dominion of Canada, 3 November 1898-13 October 1899. He served with his regiment in the Second Boer War and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901). During the course of the war, as an officer in the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, he was appointed Town Commandant of Harrismith, November 1900; a Press Censor, April 1901, Assistant Intelligence Officer, April 1901 and a Railway Staff Officer, December 1901. He returned to England in March 1902. After the war he served as A.D.C. to the General Commanding the Forces in Ireland and the IIIrd Army Corps, 18 March 1902-30 April 1904.

The first page of the album is dated, ‘Canada, Nov. 3rd 1898’. The early part of the album features photographs and cuttings relating to Lascelles’ time in Canada as A.D.C. to the Governor General, the Earl of Minto; followed by cuttings and photographs relating to his wedding in November 1899 to Lady Sybil Beauclerk, daughter of the Duke of St. Albans.
Cuttings and photographs having a connection to the Boer War then follow, including some relating to Lascelles appointment as Town Commandant of Harrismith in November 1900 and some photographs of Boer prisoners of war being transported to St. Helena, including General Ben Viljoen. Photographs of Ireland follow as Lascelles took up the position of A.D.C. to the Duke of Connaught, General Commanding the Forces in Ireland and the 3rd Army Corps. Then follows photographs and cuttings relating to the enthronement of the King of Spain and the Coronation of King Edward VII; and end with a shooting party with the Duke of Connaught, a visit to his father at the British Embassy in Berlin and other photographs.
Amongst some loose papers relating to the Boer War, is one typescript concerning the assembly of personnel for a military court set to try Jacobus Johannes de Jager, a prisoner of war of Harrismith District - Captain Lascelles being one of the Members of the Court. Another paper, a hand-written letter addressed to Lascelles, dated 18 March 1901, indicates that things went badly for de Jager:

‘Dear Lascelles, Will you please arrange for the removal of J. de Jager to the cell in the gaol after dark this evening & for a guard being placed over him there - One sentry must be always in the cell & one outside. I suggest the prisoner & escort being driven up in an ambulance or some covered vehicle if it can be arranged. The guard should be withdrawn when the Military Police & Executioner go in to pinion the man and should file outside the gaol. .... The execution will be at 7 am sharp tomorrow.’