Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War D.C.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant J. H. Newton, Rimington’s Corps of Guides, later Damant’s Horse, Intelligence Department, and Royston’s Horse

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Tpr: J. H. Newton. Corps of Guides); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 8 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (Serjt: J. H. Newton. Damant’s Horse.); Natal 1906, 1 clasp, 1906 (M. J. H. Newton, Royston’s Horse.) edge bruising, heavy contact marks, therefore good fine (3) £2400-2800

Provenance: Spink, December 1983; Glendining’s, July 1999; Dix Noonan Webb, September 2002.

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901.

John Henry Newton enrolled into Rimington’s Corps of Guides on 13 October 1899 and was promoted Sergeant on 18 October 1899. Raised at the outbreak of the war by Major M. F. Rimington, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, it was not a large unit, numbering about 150 at the outset. The Guides were distinguished in many of the early actions of the war. Sir Archibald Hunter said of them, ‘Major Rimington has gathered a body of men whose virtues are like his own. They can ride, see, fight, and shoot straight. They are in the forefront where there is danger. They have never disappointed me, let alone failed me.’ When Rimington left the Guides to take another command, the unit was resuscitated under another of their leaders, Major Damant. Although the corps was still called officially Rimington’s Guides, it eventually became Damant’s Horse.

For his services during the Boer War Newton was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the recommendation stating: ‘On 20 May 1900, Trooper Newton rendered good service in collecting information and guiding a patrol along the Valsch River. On 22 May 1900, he took part in a reconnaissance to Rhenoster River Bridge and brought back a report’, and was also Mentioned in Despatches for ‘gallant conduct and valuable scouting.’ (London Gazette 27 September 1901). He left the Guides on 17 August 1900 and transferred to the Intelligence Department.