Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Burma, India and Boer War campaign group of three awarded to Colonel P. R. Mantell, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was wounded at Rooidam in South Africa in May 1900 and awarded the D.S.O.

India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Burma 1885-7, Hazara 1891 (Lieutt. P. R. Mantell, 1st Bn. R.W. Fus.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (Major P. R. Mantell, D.S.O., R. Welsh Fus.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Major P. R. Mantell, D.S.O., Rl. Welsh Fus.), together with a miniature dress D.S.O., E.VII.R. issue, gold and enamel, extensive official corrections to naming on the Boer War medals, minor contact wear, generally very fine and better (4) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Welsh Regiments formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord.

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Patrick Riners Mantell was born at Sialkot, India in December 1862, the son of Colonel Riners Mantell, Indian Medical Service. Commissioned in the Leinster Regiment direct from the R.M.C. Sandhurst in August 1883, he transferred to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at the end of the same year.

He subsequently witnessed active service in the Burma operations of 1885-87 and in the Hazara Expedition of 1891 (Medal & 2 clasps), and was advanced to Captain in the 1st Battalion in July 1892.

So, too, in South Africa, where he was present in the Relief of Ladysmith operations, including the battle of Colenso; operations on the Tugela Heights (14-27 February 1900) and the action at Pieter’s Hill; operations in the Transvaal in May-June 1900; operations in the Transvaal west of Pretoria, including the actions at Frederickstad (17 and 25 October); operations in Cape Colony, north of the Orange River, including the action at Rooidam (wounded); operations in the Transvaal from November 1900 to September 1901 and operations in the Orange River Colony from September 1901 until May 1902. He also served as Garrison Adjutant at Potchefstroom and as Commandant at Frederickstad (Queen’s Medal & 5 clasps; King’s Medal & 2 clasps).

Of the action at Rooidam on 5 May 1900, in which Mantell was wounded, Broughton-Mainwaring’s Historical Record of The Royal Welch Fusiliers, states:

‘On 5 May 1900, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers played a conspicuous part in the action at Rooidam. ‘The advance of the Fusiliers,’ it was stated, ‘was irresistible, and for once the Boer loss, as they were hustled from kopje to kopje, appears to be greater than the British.’ The enemy force of 2,000 was routed with considerable loss, and the way was cleared for the flying column under Colonel Mahon to proceed to the relief of Mafeking … Captain Mantell was mentioned in despatches for his gallant and skilful leading on this occasion.’

Mantell was advanced to Major in October 1900, twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 8 February and 10 September 1901, refer), and awarded the D.S.O. He was invested with the latter distinction by the King in March 1903.

Appointed the senior Major of the 1st Battalion in May 1904, he commanded the 2nd Battalion as Lieutenant-Colonel 1907-11 and was placed on the Retired List as a Colonel in the latter year. He died in January 1936; sold with an original letter of reference in Mantell’s hand, in respect of a Corporal Hughes of the R.W.F., and a quantity of copied research.

Also see Lot 0000 for his son’s Great War awards.