Auction Catalogue

1 & 2 March 2017

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 81 x

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1 March 2017

Hammer Price:
£3,800

A Sudan D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Private J. Chalmers, Cameron Highlanders, for his gallantry as a Piper at the Battle of the Atbara, 8 April 1898, where he assisted Private Cross in saving the life of General Gatacre by killing a Dervish about to spear the general - an act of gallantry for which Cross was recommended for the V.C.

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Pte. J. Chalmers. Cam’n Highrs. (8th. April 1898)); Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (3995. Pte. J. Chalmers. 1/Cam: Hrs:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (3995 Pte. J. Chalmers, 1: Cam’n: H’drs:); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (3995 Pte. J. Chalmers. Cameron Highrs:); British War and Victory Medals (22315 Pte. J. Chalmers. Camerons.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 2 clasps, The Atbara, Khartoum (3995 Pte. Chalmers 1 Cam: Highrs.) with unofficial top retaining rod, contact marks and minor edge bruising, nearly very fine and better (7) £3000-4000

Provenance: Sotheby’s, March 1986.

D.C.M. London Gazette 15 November 1898.

John Chalmers was born in Glasgow in 1873, and attested for the Cameron Highlanders at Ayr on 12 May 1897. He served with the 1st Battalion as a piper in Egypt and the Sudan from 4 October 1897 until 2 March 1900, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, as part of General Gatacre’s Brigade, for his gallantry at the Battle of the Atbara, 8 April 1898: ‘General Gatacre delivered a stirring address. There was, he told the troops, to be no question about this. They were to go right through the zariba, and drive the Dervishes into the river. At half-past seven our artillery ceased fire, and the bugles sounded the advance. The pipers were placed in the rear of the battalion in the advance on the Dervish zariba, where they played “The Earl of Mansfield”. In the action Piper James Stewart, emulating Mackay at Waterloo, stood close to the most formidable of the enemy’s stockades playing “The Cameron Men” for the encouragement of his comrades. He presented an easy mark for the Dervishes and fell, hit not once but seven times. That, and the saving of General Gatacre’s life by Private Cross who killed a Dervish about to spear the general, were the outstanding actions of the rank and file of the Camerons in that engagement. Cross, who was later killed, was recommended for the V.C., but there were soldiers who maintained that Piper Chalmers, one of the best shots in the Regiment, and also one of the most notorious defaulters, had a share in Cross’s act, but was debarred by his “conduct sheet” from receiving any reward [having been twice imprisoned, for 14 and 84 days respectively with hard labour for drunkenness on duty whilst on active service]. Many stories are told of that excellent but misguided piper.’ (The Piper in Peace and War, by C. A. Malcolm refers). In the event both Cross and Chalmers received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the only two awarded to the Camerons for the Atbara.

Present at the Battle of Omdurman, where the Regiment again distinguished themselves (receiving a further 4 D.C.M.s), Chalmers subsequently served in South Africa during the Boer War from 3 March 1900 until 10 October 1902, and was discharged on 14 October of that year, after 6 years and 157 days’ service, his character with the Colours recorded as ‘Indifferent’. He re-enlisted for service during the Great War at Aberdeen on 10 November 1914, and was posted to the Gordon Highlanders. He served with the British Expeditionary Force in France from 3 December 1914 (additionally entitled to a 1914-15 Star), and was appointed a Piper on 21 June 1915. Transferring to the 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders on 12 July 1916, he was appointed a Bugler on 1 August of that year, and served with the Salonika Force from 12 August 1916, being appointed acting Corporal on 28 October of that year. He was finally discharged on 31 March 1920, after a further 5 years and 143 days’ service.

Note: The D.C.M. group of three to Private T. Cross sold in these rooms in December 2016.