Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (134 Tpr. W. R. Winder, Lumsden’s Horse) nearly extremely fine £160-200

Lumsden’s Horse was an irregular unit of mounted volunteers raised by subscription in India. Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel D. M. Lumsden of the Assam Valley Volunteers, it consisted of two squadrons of cavalry and a maxim gun detachment. Its members were mostly tea, coffee or indigo planters from across India, along with a few gentlemen, merchants, clerks and civil servants, altogether some 240 strong.

The regiment sailed from Calcutta in February (A Squadron) and March (B Squadron). Once both squadrons had been assembled in South Africa, they joined Lord Robert’s Army at Bloemfontein, where they were attached to Colonel Ross’s Mounted Infantry. They took part in several sharp engagements during the advance to Pretoria, and after its occupation were engaged in outpost work and skirmishing. They later took part in the march from Machododorp to Heidelberg, where they were engaged in further severe fighting.

When the Regiment returned home in November 1900, they found that they were the toast of India. Lord Roberts sent a telegram to the Viceroy expressing his appreciation for their excellent services, stating, ‘It has been a pride and a pleasure to me to have under my command a volunteer contingent which has so well upheld the honour of the Indian Empire.’