Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Boer War dated D.C.M. and Royal Air Force M.S.M. combination group of seven awarded to Corporal R. W. Feast, 5th Dragoon Guards, later Flight Sergeant, Royal Air Force, for gallantry at Volksrust, 2 August 1900, where he was also taken prisoner

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (3517 Cpl R. W. Feast, 5th Dragoon Gds: 2-8-00); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Natal, Transvaal (3517 Corpl: R. Feast. 5th Dragoon Gds:); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (3517 Corpl: R. W. Feast. 7th Drgn: Gds:); British War and Victory Medals (9092. Sgt. R. W. Feast. R.A.F.); Coronation 1911, Metropolitan Police (P.S., R. Feast.); Royal Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (9092 F/Sjt. R. W. Feast. R.A.F.) minor edge bruising overall, nearly very fine or better (7) £2800-3200

Provenance: Lovell Collection, Sotheby, November 1978; Buckland Dix Wood, October 1993.

D.C.M. London Gazette 19 April 1901.

M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

Robert William Feast was born in St. Pancras, London, and attested for the 5th Dragoon Guards at Oxford on 9 March 1891. He served with the Regiment in South Africa, 8 February 1900 - 31 December 1900, and 26 November 1901 - 1 August 1902. He was awarded the D.C.M. for services at Volkrust, 2 August 1900, where he was taken prisoner and subsequently released. The Regimental History gives the following additional details:

‘The regiment continued to be employed on lines of communication till 1st May 1901, being kept most of the time split up in small detachments of half a squadron or even less. Patrolling was constantly carried out, so that there were daily some twenty patrols in constant touch with the Boers. On 2nd August one such patrol was sent with a guide to a farm near Wakkerstroom. It was attacked by the Boers, and the guide was wounded. Corporal Feast, who was in charge of the patrol, could have got away, but he went back to assist the guide, and they were both captured. Corporal Feast was afterwards awarded the D.C.M. for his conduct on this occasion.’

Having advanced to Corporal, Feast transferred to the 7th Dragoon Guards, 31 March 1902. He was discharged in March the following year, and joined the Metropolitan Police. He advanced to Sergeant (Mounted Police), before enlisting in the Royal Flying Corps, 31 August 1915. Feast served as a Flight Sergeant with the 8th Brigade, Royal Air Force, in the French theatre of war, 22 May 1918 - 9 January 1919. Primarily a bomber formation, this became part of the Independent Air Force in June 1918. He was discharged 30 April 1920.