Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (Capt. J. A. Orr-Ewing. 5/Co. 2/Imp. Yeo.) with parts of named card box of issue, toned, extremely fine £2000-2500

Major James Alexander Orr-Ewing, Commanding the Warwickshire Yeomanry, was killed in action at Kleis, on 28 May 1900, apparently whilst helping a wounded officer out of a river. He was the younger son of Sir Archibald Orr-Ewing of Ballikinrain, 1st Baronet, born on 22 February 1857. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, becoming M.A. in 1889. He joined the 16th Lancers in 1880, was promoted Lieutenant in 1881, Captain in 1888, and Major in 1896. Retiring from the 16th Lancers he joined the Reserve of Officers, and was gazetted a Captain in the Warwickshire Yeomanry in 1898, a Company of which he commanded at the time of his death. He was Aide-de-Camp to Lord Londonderry (Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland) from 1885 to 1890, and Aide-de-Camp to Field-Marshal Earl Roberts (Commander-in-Chief in Ireland) from 1895 to 1896. Major Orr-Ewing, who was a very keen and popular sportsman, and a good rider and fisherman, married, in 1898, Lady Margaret Frances Susan Innes-Ker, daughter of the 7th Duke of Roxburghe and Lady Anne Emily Spencer-Churchill, by whom he left one daughter.

The Warwickshire Yeomanry served in South Africa as the 5th Company, 2nd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, and comprised of five officers and 116 men. The Company sailed for South Africa in the S.S. Erie on 1 February 1900. At Kleis Drift on 28 May 1900, Major Orr-Ewing and two men were killed when trying to help wounded comrades in the river; another ten men were wounded.