Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely rare Anglo-Boer War D.T.D., Great War German South-West Africa D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel P. L. de Jager, Piet Retief Commando, one of a handful of South Africans to be awarded the Russian Order of St. Stanislaus

Anglo-Boer War Decoration voor Trouwe Dienst 1899-1902 (Kapt. & Adj. P. L. de Jager); Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Anglo-Boer War Medal 1899-1902 (Kapt. & Adj. P. L. de Jager); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Kol. P. J. de Jager, Piet Retief Kdo.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. P. L. de Jager); Russia, Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd Class breast badge, with swords, by Eduard of St. Petersburg, gold and enamel, manufacturer’s marks on reverse, with ‘56’ gold mark and kokoshnik mark for St. Petersburg 1908-17 on eyelet, minor enamel damage and wear to the last, generally good very fine (7) £5000-6000

Just 18 recipients of the D.T.D. went on to win a D.S.O. for the Great War.

D.S.O. London Gazette 22 August 1918. The original recommendation states:

‘For exceptional loyalty, thorough understanding of duty and applying the strictest discipline in his Commando. An officer of outstanding merit and capacity especially deserving of reward.’

Petrus Lafras de Jager, who was born in Harrismith District in Orange Free State in May 1870, served as a Captain & Adjutant on Botha’s staff in Natal and the Transvaal in the period September 1899 to June 1902; the award of his D.T.D. was approved in July 1921.

He subsequently served as a Major - afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel - in the Pier Retief Commando in German South-West Africa in the period October 1914 to August 1915, services that were recognised by the award of his D.S.O. and a brace of “mentions” (London Gazettes 30 June 1916 and 8 February 1917, refer), in addition to the 3rd Class of the Russian Order of St. Stanislaus (London Gazette 15 February 1917, refers).

De Jager was discharged as unfit for further duty in December 1916; sold with copied research.