Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Army Inter-Regimental Rifle Match Medal 1887, an ornate silver skeletal badge, 48mm., hallmarks for Birmingham 1887, with the Royal coat-of-Arms at its centre, enclosed by the inscription and a wreath of laurel, with crossed rifles below; reverse inscribed, ‘Officers Serving Abroad won by Lieut. C. F. Pinney 3rd Bn Rifle Brigade’, with a long length of ribbon, nearly extremely fine £100-150

Charles Frederick Pinney was born on 9 June 1864, the eldest son of Frederick W. Pinney, of Somerton Erleigh, Somerset. Educated at Eton and Cambridge. Commissioned into the Rifle Brigade from the Militia in November 1884. Served with the 3rd Battalion in Gibraltar, 1885; Egypt, 1887-88; Cape Province, 1888-89, and India, 1889-92. Promoted to Captain in October 1893 and in August 1894 was appointed Adjutant of the 2nd Tower Hamlets Rifle Volunteers, a post he held until December 1897 when he retired from the service. In 1897, following his family’s wishes, he changed his name to ‘Pretor-Pinney’. Soon after the war in South Africa began he was appointed a Major in the 7th (Militia) Battalion of the Rifle Brigade and was acting Adjutant of it, March 1900-July 1901 and second -in-command. Upon the 4th Battalion being ordered to South Africa he was attached to it in December 1901 and served with it until the end of the war. For his services he was awarded the Queen’s medal with three clasps. Returning to England after the war, he resigned his commission in the militia.

Upon the outbreak of the Great War, he immediately returned to his old regiment, firstly as Captain, then as Major. In October 1914 he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in command of the 13th Battalion Rifle Brigade. On 29 July 1915 he took it to the Western Front. On 10 July 1916 he was wounded in action during the battle of the Somme and was invalided to England. For his services Lieutenant-Colonel Pretor-Pinney was awarded the D.S.O. (London Gazette 1 January 1917). He resumed command of his battalion at the front in February 1917 but was severely wounded on 23 April 1917 during the battle of Arras - his battalion and that of the 13th K.R.R.C. being the first to enter and hold the town of Monchy. Lieutenant-Colonel Pretor-Pinney died of his wounds on 28 April 1917 and was buried at Aubigny. With copied research.