Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Major B. W. Mainprise, Royal Engineers, killed in action, East Africa, 12 March 1916

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Lieutt. B. W. Mainprese, R.E.) official correction to rank; 1914-15 Star (Major B. W. Mainprise, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major B. W. Mainprise) note minor variation in surname, mounted court style for display; together with two Memorial Plaques (Bertie Wilmot Mainprise) (Bertie Wilmote Mainprise) one with card envelope of issue, extremely fine (6) £600-700

Bertie Wilmot Mainprise was born in Southsea, Hampshire on 3 November 1874. He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers on 27 February 1894 and was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1897, Captain in April 1904 and Major in February 1914. He served in the operations on the N.W. Frontier of India, 1897-98 (medal and clasp) and then in operations in China, 1901-02, being mentioned in Major-General Creagh’s despatch for the China Expedition (London Gazette 21 November 1902). Latterly Inspecting Officer of the Imperial Service Sappers. Serving in the East African theatre of war from November 1914, he was in the expedition to Tanga and later took part in the raid on Bukoba. As Brigade Major of the Volunteer Brigade, he was killed in action in the battle for the Kitovo Hills on 12 March 1916 and was buried in the Taveta War Cemetery, Kenya. Mainprise was the son of Wilmot Mainprise, R.N. and husband of Nesta Mainprise, of ‘Faridst’, Earlsfield Road, Hythe, Kent. For his wartime services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 30 June 1916).

With copied service paper, war diary extract, m.i.c. and other research - the C.W.G.C. extract records that he was four times mentioned in despatches.