Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Boer War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant, later Lieutenant, F. G. Beckett, 9th Lancers, for ‘conspicuous gallantry in the capture of Lotter’s Commando’

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (Serjt: F. G. Beckett. 9th Lancers.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 7 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (2741. Serjt. F. G. Beckett. 9/Lcrs.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2741 Serjt: F. G. Beckett. 9th Lancers.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. F. G. Beckett) the Victory Medal officially re-impressed in rank of ‘Lieut.’, mounted for display, contact marks, otherwise good very fine (5) £2000-2400

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

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D.C.M. 11 October 1901; details London Gazette 3 December 1901:

‘For conspicuous gallantry in the capture of Lotter’s Commando near Pietersburg, Cape Colony, on 5th September 1901.’

For this action the D.C.M. was awarded to Sergeant Beckett and Sergeant Cook (see following Lot) of the 9th Lancers, and to Private Haines of the Cape Mounted Rifles (see Lot 409).

Frederick George Beckett was born on 7 April 1876, and enlisted into the 9th Lancers in September 1894 and received promotion to Sergeant in 1899. He was mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.C.M. for gallantry during the Boer War (Queen’s medal with 7 clasps, King’s medal with 2 clasps). Promoted Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant in 1908 and to Regimental Quartermaster in 1914, he served in Flanders from 15 August 1914, and was employed as Adjutant, 49 West Riding Depot, Havre, from 15 September 1914. Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in October 1914, he served in France and Belgium until March 1916. He retired in January 1920 in the rank of Lieutenant.

According to his Medal Index Card he is entitled to the 1914 Star and clasp. In the Correspondence section it notes that he wrote in October 1920 ‘re inscription on medals’. His Victory medal was returned in May 1922 and re-issued in September 1922, presumably with the revised naming as above.