Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Sergeant R. Belsey, 9th Lancers, who was mentioned in despatches during the Boer War, won the Military Medal for gallantry at Hooge in November 1914, and was killed in action in November 1916 whilst attached to 170 Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 7 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (4338 Pte: R. Belsey. 9/Lcrs.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4338 Corpl: R. Belsey. 9th Lancers.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (4338 Sjt. R. Belsey. 9-Lrs.) contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine (3) £280-320

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 9th and 12th Lancers.

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M.I.D. Lord Kitchener, 8 December 1901: ‘for very good work with Maxim gun with Colonel Scobel’s column in Cape Colony.’

M.M. London Gazette 11 October 1916. The following recommendations are taken from the records of the Ninth Lancers held by the National Army Museum:

‘This N.C.O. has done excellent work throughout the war and he has always volunteered for work in advance of the trenches. He has already been specially mentioned for his work at Hooge which was of a specially meritorious nature.

He has already been specially recommended for his work at Hooge from the 11th to the 19th November 1914 which was of a specially meritorious nature.

Signed: Lt. Col. H. M. Durant DSO

[Recommended for] M.M.’

‘To Brigade Major 2nd Cavalry Bde. Nov 20th 1914

In the advanced trenches before Hooge, this NCO did very valuable work in the stable of the chateau under very trying circumstances. The place was full of dead Germans, and the walls were not bullet proof but his party did considerable execution among the Germans from the loop holes despite the fact that a number of men were wounded attempting to fire through the joop holes, as the German trench was only 15 yards away.

No.4338 Sjt R Belsey

Signed: D. Dean Browne
Major Commanding 9th Lancers. Meteren 20.11.14’

Sergeant Belsey was transferred to 170 Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers on 1 February 1916 and was killed in action on 19 November 1916. His Military Medal is held by the Dover Museum, Ladywell, Dover. Sold with a copied news cutting with small portrait photograph of recipient.