Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Boer War pair awarded to Colonel C. J. Vines, Gloucestershire Regiment, who commanded the 1st and 2nd Battalions during the conflict

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Natal, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (Major C. J. Vines, Glouc. Rgt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Col. C. J. Vines, Glouc. Rgt.), one or two edge nicks, very fine or better (2) £600-700

Charles James Vines, who was born in June 1858, was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Gloucestershire Regiment direct from the R.M.C. Sandhurst in January 1878. Advanced to Lieutenant in June 1880 and to Captain in June 1885, he was appointed Adjutant to the 1st (Volunteer) Battalion in 1891. He remained similarly employed until 1896, gaining advancement to Major in July 1895.

During the Boer War, when he held the regimental rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, he commanded the 2nd Battalion in the periods February-March 1900 and December 1900 to May 1901; the 1st Battalion in the period May to July 1900, and the 4th Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment in the period July to November 1900. His first period of command of the 2nd Battalion was occasioned by Colonel Lindsell being seriously wounded at Paardeberg in February 1900, on which occasion Vines led the left of the regiment’s advance against the ‘Northern kopje’, which was the highest.

Vines was also present at the relief of Kimberley, in addition at the actions at Driefontein and Poplar Grove, and served in Natal in the period March-June 1900 (Queen’s Medal & 5 clasps; King’s Medal & 2 clasps). He was given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel and twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 10 September 1901 and 29 July 1902, refer).

Having then been given the Brevet of Colonel in July 1905, he was placed on the Retired List in July 1907. He appears, however, to have commanded the 9th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, in late 1915.

A prominent member of the “In and Out” Club in his retirement, the Colonel died in London in February 1928, aged 69 years, one obituarist describing him as one of the most popular Battalion C.Os of his era.

Sold with embroidered battle honours for ‘Paardeberg’ and the ‘Relief of Kimberley’, on dark purple background with yellow edging, presumably as removed from an old regimental banner; together with copied research.