Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Captain H. G. Majendie, The Rifle Brigade, Egyptian Army and Robert’s Light Horse, mortally wounded at Dekiel’s Drift in February 1900

India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Burma 1887-89, Burma 1889-92 (Lieut., 4th Bn. Rif Brig.); Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (Cpt., 4/Bn. E.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (Capt., Robert’s Light Horse); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 3 clasps, The Atbara, Khartoum, Sudan 1899, unnamed as issued; Order of the Medjidie, 4th class breast badge, silver, gold and enamels, extremely fine (5) £2500-3000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to The Rifle Brigade and Affiliated Regiments from the collection formed by Michael Haines.

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See Colour Plate I.

Henry Grylls Majendie was born on 28 March 1865, son of Colonel Sir Vivian Majendie, K.C.B., and was educated at Winchester and Sandhurst. He was gazetted to the Rifle Brigade on 9 May 1885 and joined the 4th Battalion in India later that year. He served with the Mounted Infantry of his battalion in the latter phases of the war in Burma, receiving the medal with two clasps.

On the return of the 4th Battalion to England in 1891, he was appointed Adjutant, which position he held until June 1895. Promoted Captain in April 1894, he joined the Egyptian Army in December 1897, and almost at once found himself on active service. In February 1898 he took part in the reconnaissance to Shendy, being in command of a gunboat in the flotilla commanded by Captain Colin Keppel, Royal Navy. Four of the enemy’s boats were captured and Majendie was enabled to make some useful notes and sketches of the Arab defences and dispositions about Shendy. Majendie was subsequently present at the battles of the Atbara and Khartoum, and the occupation of Khartoum. He contributed an excellent account of the fight at Atbara, and of Macdonald’s share in the fight at Omdurman, in the Rifle Brigade Chronicle of 1898. Majendie’s 4th Egyptian Battalion was warmly engaged in these actions.

On the return of the British troops northward, Majendie’s Battalion was sent to Fashoda, where his men suffered so terribly from fever that he was ordered to withdraw. At that moment the Khalifa had approached to within striking distance of Fashoda, but Majendie, sooner than permit the ‘friendly’ tribesmen to imagine that his withdrawal was due to the proximity of the Dervishes, on his own responsibility allowed his men to go north, but himself remained behind at Fashoda until he had restored confidence in the local ‘Mek’, or Chief. He subsequently rejoined the remains of his fever-stricken Battalion at Khartoum in August 1899. Whilst at Fashoda he made a big bag of game and contributed an interesting paper to the Rifle Brigade Chrinicle on “Fashoda and the South” which appeared in the 1899 issue.

Soon after his return to Khartoum his Battalion was ordered to Cairo, but as there was a fresh move against the Khalifa in prospect he obtained leave to remain in the Soudan. Although seriously ill with fever contracted at Fashoda, he accompanied this expedition up the Nile in October; it was, however, unfortunately futile. On the 13th November he started for England, and on his arrival at once applied for employment in South Africa. He was shortly gazetted as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, and on his arrival at the Cape he was employed on the lines of communication at De Aar. Soon after he was selected for the post of second-in-command of Robert’s Horse, a portion of which regiment was at the time in De Aar, and of which he assumed command.

The corps had only recently been formed, and this being the case there was necessarily much to do. On 18th January, having refitted and reorganised his command, he marched off with it to Prieska on Flying Column. From thence he marched to Orange River and after a day’s halt he went off again to Sunnyside. The next move was to Belmont, and then to join the concentration at Ramdam.

‘At 2 a.m. on February 12th, 1900, we marched out. Majendie rode part of the way with me; he was much pleased because the general situation had so much improved. He said he felt sure that the move in which we were taking part was one which would produce great results. When day broke the enemy opened fire, and we were sent with the bulk of the mounted troops to turn their left.

‘At about 8 a.m. we reached De Kiel’s Drift, where we were to cross the river, here we found a small force of the enemy in position; our guns opened fire and the order came for Robert’s Horse to force the passage of the river. Two squadrons were sent off, Majendie was riding on the flank, and I could see he was looking very disappointed at not being sent with them, for as second-in-command he expected to go.

‘A few minutes after they had started an order came for him to follow them and take command. At once his whole bearing changed, he acknowledged the order and galloped off. He led them across the river and on reaching the far side we came under a sharp enfilade fire and he was shot at the head of his men. As he fell he called out to one of the squadron commanders to go on and leave him.

‘About a quarter of an hour later the enemy fell back and retired. He was carried down to the river and everything that medical skill could do was done for him. It was a terrible exertion to him to speak and he said but little. Never did man make a more gallant fight for life or bear pain in a braver manner, he never made a word of complaint. He said “I was the first over the river.” ... “I am afraid I make a great fuss.” ... “Do Harper well.” ... Harper was his Rifle Brigade servant, who had come to the regiment with him. During the afternoon he became unconscious, and at 10 p.m. he died. I saw him after death, he had changed very little. His face was quite peaceful, and in the end he seemed to have passed away without pain.’