Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The King’s South Africa Medal to Piper G. Will, Gordon Highlanders, who was wounded during the famous attack on the Dargai Heights, 20 October 1897, when his fellow Piper, George Findlater, of the same Regiment, was awarded the Victoria Cross for piping the Gordons to Victory

King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (4230 Pte. G. Will. Gordon Highrs:) very fine £300-400

George Will attested for the Gordon Highlanders in 1892 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion. He subsequently transferred to the 1st Battalion and embarked with a draft to join the Battalion in India. Appointed Piper, he served with the Chitral Relief Force in 1895, and on the North West Frontier in 1897-98 (entitled to India General Service Medal with clasps for Relief of Chitral 1895, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, and Tirah 1897-98). He took part in the famous action on the Dargai Heights, 20 October 1897, when the Gordons, led by their five Pipers, were ordered to advance through open ground and storm the heights. Another Piper from the Regiment, Piper George Findlater, was awarded the Victoria Cross for piping, although wounded, the Gordons to victory, and Will himself was slightly wounded by gunshot to the buttocks during the attack (London Gazette 1 March 1898). Having reverted back to the ranks, Will also served with the Battalion during the South African War, and was present at the Battle of Paardeberg, and the actions at Johannesburg and Belfast, May to August 1900 (entitled to a Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, and Belfast).