Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War D.S.O., M.C. and Bar group of eleven awarded to the Reverend C. H. S. Runge, Principal Chaplain to the Union Defence Forces of South Africa 1941-44, late Captain, Middlesex Regiment

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R.; Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse inscribed ‘France Jan. 1917’, with Second Award Bar, the reverse inscribed ‘France Aug. 1918’; 1914-15 Star (2.Lieut., Midd’x. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence & War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Africa Service Medal, these last six all officially impressed (254107 C. H. S. Runge) generally very fine or better (11) £2500-3000

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1918: Temporary Captain, General List.

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

Bar to M.C. London Gazette 7 November 1918: ‘T./Capt., D.S.O., M.C., General List. For conspicuous gallantry and initiative during an attack. He several times rallied men under severe opposition, and led by his personal example of courage and cheerfulness assisted troops to hold on to their positions until they could be carried forward by a reinforcing battalion.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 December 1917, 20 May 1918, and 23 May 1946.

Charles Herman Schmetau Runge was born on 4 June 1889, and educated at Charterhouse and Trinity College, Oxford. He was employed in the British Bank of South America, Buenos Aires, 1908-12, and with Runge, Wolters & CO., London, 1912-14. He was commissioned into the 12th Middlesex Regiment in 1914, and later on the General List as Captain and Intelligence Officer to the 54th Infantry Brigade, 1916; 55th Infantry Brigade, 1917; D.A.Q.M.G. 58th Division, 1918 (despatches, D.S.O., M.C. and Bar).

Charles Runge was ordained Deacon in 1921; Priest 1922; Warden of Buxton Hostel, Lecturer in Theology, Transvaal University College, Pretoria, 1922-24; Curate of St Saviour, Paddington, 1924-26; Member of the Community of the Resurrection, 1928; Headmaster of St John’s College, Johannesburg, 1930-35; Provincial of Community of the Resurrection in South Africa, 1935-40; Principal Chaplain, Union Defence Force (South Africa), Middle East Forces and Central Mediterranean Forces, 1941-44; Chief Welfare Officer, U.D.F., 1944-46 (despatches); Rector of St Paul’s, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 1947-50; received into the Catholic Church, 1952; Beda College, Rome, 1955; Pastor in Archdiocese of Pretoria, 1955-63; Lecturer at Beda College, Rome, 1964-68; retired 1968. Reverend Charles Runge died on 13 September 1970.