Auction Catalogue

20 September 2002

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria to coincide with the OMRS Convention

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1482

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20 September 2002

Hammer Price:
£1,100

A Defence of Kimberley D.C.M. pair awarded to Bombardier A. J. Sillwood, Royal Garrison Artillery

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (3625 Bomb. A. Sillwood, R.G.A.) initial corrected; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Defence of Kimberley, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 (3625 Bomb. A. J. Sillwood, 23rd W.D. R.G.A.) correction to first initial, generally very fine and scarce (2) £700-900

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901; A.O. 15 of 1902. All rolls give initials as ‘E. J.’

In terms of regular troops, the garrison at Kimberley comprised just four Companies of the 1st Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, six 7-pounder Mountain Guns of the 23rd Company, R.G.A., under Major Chamier, with a total of 93 men, and a small detachment of Royal Engineers numbering just over fifty men. In addition, there was a Headquarters Staff and a few men of the R.A.M.C. and A.S.C. Ably supported by troops drawn from such volunteer regiments as the Diamonds Field Horse and Artillery, and the Kimberley Regiment, and a sizeable Town Guard, this force conducted a successful defence of the town until relieved by columns under Generals French and Kelly-Kenny in February 1900. While perhaps not as spirited as the besieged at Ladysmith and Mafeking, the men in Kimberley did mount several forays against the Boers, that of the 25 November 1899 being the most notable. On all such occasions the role of the artillery - and especially the 23rd W.D. Royal Garrison Artillery - was as important as it was prominent.