Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Boer War C.B., Great War C.B.E. group of eight awarded to Colonel E. E. Carr, who commanded the Royal Scots Fusiliers at the Relief of Ladysmith, and was severely wounded at Pieter’s Hill leading his regiment in the final attack

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) breast badge converted for neck wear, silver-gilt and enamels; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) 1st type neck badge; India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (Major E. E. Carr 2nd Bn. Ryl: Sco: Fus:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (Lt-Colonel E. E. Carr. C.B. Rl: Scots Fus:); King’s South Africa, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Col. E. E. Carr C.B. Rl. Scots. Fus.); 1914-15 Star (Col: E. E. Carr.); British War and Victory Medals with M.I.D. oak leaf (Col. E. E. Carr.) the backstraps of the clasps cut away to facilitate mounting, otherwise nearly extremely fine (8) £1500-2000

Edward Elliott Carr was born on 31 May 1854, son of Deputy Surgeon-General J. K. Carr, M.D., R.A. He was educated privately and entered the Army in 1873, being appointed to the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He served with the 2nd battalion on the N.W. Frontier of India 1897-98, including the action at the Ublan Pass on 27 August, 1897; and in Tirah, in the operations against the Khani Khel Chamkanis.

He commanded the 2nd battalion in South Africa from 23 November 1899, and was present at the Relief of Ladysmith, including the operations of 17 to 24 January and 5 to 7 February, 1900, and action at Vall Krantz; operations on the Tugela Heights, and the action at Pieter’s Hill where, leading his regiment in the final attack, he was severely wounded. The heavy losses incurred by the regiment at this action, together with those of the Irish and Dublin Fusiliers, all part of Barton’s Fusilier Brigade, were tempered by the fact that the capture of Pieter’s Hill resulted directly in the relief of Ladysmith. Colonel Carr was mentioned in General Buller’s despatches; as was Sergeant-Major Steele for “conspicuous coolness and devotion in building up stone sangars under heavy cross-fire round Lieut.-Colonel Carr, who was lying wounded, and protecting his commanding officer until he was removed after dark.” Steele was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After recovering from his wounds, Colonel Carr resumed command of his regiment and took part in the actions at Frederickstad, later being appointed Commandant of that town. For his services in South Africa he was created a Companion of the Bath.

During the Great War Colonel Carr served at home as Assistant Adjutant and Quarter-Master General of the Lowland Division in 1914, and as Inspector of the Lines of Communications, 1914-15. He went to France in 1915 where he Commanded No.16 Base Depôt and, from 1916 to 1918, he Commanded Reinforcements in France. He was mentioned in despatches by the Secretary of State for War in February 1917; by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig in December 1917, and created a C.B.E. in 1919. Colonel Carr died at Sidmouth, Devon, on 18 May 1926.