Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Boer War D.S.O. group of four awarded to Captain W. Jardine, Imperial Light Horse, late Sergeant-Instructor of Fencing, 19th Hussars, and afterwards a Captain in the Transvaal Mounted Rifles; he was twice wounded and twice mentioned in despatches, for the actions at Reitz and Langburg

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, complete with top suspension brooch, this fitted with replacement pin; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Mafeking, Defence of Ladysmith, Transvaal (3515 S.I.F. W. Jardine, 19/Hrs.) surname officially corrected; King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt. W. Jardine, Impl. Lt. Hrs.); Natal 1906, 1 clasp, 1906 (Capt. W. Jardine, D.S.O. Transvaal Mtd. Rifles.) the first with slightly depressed obverse centre and minor enamel damage, some edge bruising and contact marks but generally very fine or better (4) £3000-4000

D.S.O. London Gazette 31 October 1902: ‘W. Jardine, Capt., 1st Imperial Light Horse. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.’

Captain W. Jardine was decorated for his gallantry during the Guerilla War while an officer in the crack Imperial Light Horse. He had served with the 19th Hussars throughout the Defence of Ladysmith as Sergeant-Instructor of Fencing, and was attached to the Imperial Light Horse for the Relief of Mafeking, and, taking his discharge from the 19th Hussars, accepted a commission in the 1st Imperial Light Horse. He was wounded and taken prisoner near Pretoria on 18 July 1900, and was wounded for a second time during the action with De Wet at Tyger Kloof on 18 December 1901. It was in this action that Surgeon-Captain Crean of the Imperial Light Horse gained the Victoria Cross for aiding the wounded whilst he was himself wounded and until he was hit a second time, and, as it was at first thought, mortally wounded.

Captain Jardine distinguished himself on two separate occasions which warranted mentions for gallantry from Lord Kitchener in his despatches:

8th December 1901 - ‘Capts. W. Jardine, J. Donaldson, on Sept. 27, were conspicuous for their coolness and promptitude in fighting in Reitz district.’

8th March 1902 - ‘Capts. G. T. Brierley and W. Jardine, both 1st I.L.H., for good work in holding their position against an attack at Langberg, December 18.’ It is probable that Jardine’s D.S.O. was awarded for this action at Tyger Kloof.

Jardine became Captain, Northern Mounted Rifles, Transvaal, 12 December 1902, and Adjutant, 1 July 1907. He took part in the quelling of the Natal Native Rebellion in 1906.