Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War civil C.B. pair awarded to Hon. Colonel E. H. Bearcroft, who commanded the 6th (Militia) Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment 1901-02

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Civil) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1901, complete with swivel-ring suspension and riband buckle; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902 (Colonel E. H. Bearcroft, Worc. Rgt.), mounted as worn and contained in an old red leather Spink & Son case, minor official correction to surname on the last, good very fine (2) £600-800

C.B. London Gazette 26 June 1903.

Edward Hugh Bearcroft was born in 1852, the son of a Magistrate and landowner, Edward Henry Bearcroft of Mere Hall, Hanbury, Worcestershire.

Educated at Eton and the R.M.C. Sandhurst, he was commissioned Lieutenant in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment in March 1871. Advanced to Captain in August 1880 and to Major in April 1890, he was given command of the 4th (Militia) Battalion in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in August 1897.

Owing to the fact new Regular Army units were being raised for service in the Boer War, his unit was re-titled the 6th (Militia) Battalion in 1900, and he commanded it in South Africa in 1902 (Queen’s Medal & 3 clasps). He was appointed C.B. in the following year and retired as a Colonel in August 1905. He died at Mere Hall in January 1932.