Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Major J. P. S. Maitland, Worcestershire Regiment, three times Mentioned in Despatches, and wounded at Middelfontein in the Boer War, and Ypres in the Great War

King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Cpt. J. P. S. Maitland. Worc. Rgt.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major J. P. S. Maitland) good very fine (3) £160-200

John Paterson Strong Maitland was born at Kaitongata, New Zealand, on 26 November 1867, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Worcestershire Regiment on 8 December 1888, having previously served in the Militia. He was promoted Lieutenant on 10 June 1890, and passed the Musketry School in 1894. Promoted Captain in 1899, he served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa, joining his unit on 29 April 1900, and was wounded at Middelfontein, 23 January 1901: ‘Our force was heavily engaged with the enemy at Middelfontein. We suffered three men killed and Captains Maitland and Hankey wounded, the latter severely. We continued to trek for the next two days, being daily sniped.’ (Diary kept by Captain E. C. F. Woodhouse, Worcestershire Regiment, refers). Maitland was treated aboard the hospital ship Simla from 18 February until 13 March 1901, suffering from a bullet wound to the left deltoid muscle, but recovered sufficiently to return to South Africa (entitled to a Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Transvaal, and Wittebergen), and was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901).

Maitland transferred to the Reserve of Officers List on 8 June 1903, and joined the 5th Militia Battalion, retaining the rank of Captain. Recalled to the Colours on the outbreak of the Great War, he served with the Worcestershire Regiment on the Western Front from 7 November 1914 (additionally entitled to a 1914 Star), and was wounded during the attack on Bellewaerde, Ypres, on 16 June 1915, whilst leading “B” Company, 3rd Worcesters. The following year he was promoted Major and took over temporary command of the 4th Battalion: ‘During this period [September 1916], Major J. P. S. Maitland, one of the outstanding figures of the Battalion, was invalided home, thus closing his service in the field. In spite of his advanced years, Major Maitland had endured all privations with fine spirit, and his loss was greatly regretted by all ranks.’ (The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War refers). He left the Battalion on 15 November 1916, and arrived back in Southampton on 30 November of that year. Ordered to join the Headquarters, 3rd Army for duty on 23 December 1916, he was appointed to command no. 44 Prisoner of War Company, before he took up the appointment of Sub-Area Commandant at Mondicourt on 13 February 1917. For his services during the Great War he was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 22 June 1915 and 1 January 1916), before transferring once more to the Reserve of Officers on 29 October 1919. He was recalled for Emergency Service on the outbreak of the Miners Strike on 11 April 1921 and served with the 4th Worcestershire Regiment in Glasgow until 23 May 1921.