Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely rare Anglo-Boer War D.T.D., Great War German South-West Africa D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel P. L. de Jager, Piet Retief Commando, one of a handful of South Africans to be awarded the Russian Order of St. Stanislas

Anglo-Boer War Decoration voor Trouwe Dienst 1899-1902 (Kapt. & Adj. P. L. de Jager); Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Anglo-Boer War Medal 1899-1902 (Kapt. & Adj. P. L. de Jager); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Kol. P. J. de Jager, Piet Retief Kdo.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. P. L. de Jager); Russia, Empire, Order of St. Stanislas, Third Class breast badge, with swords, by Eduard, St. Petersburg, gold (56 zolotniki) and enamel, manufacturer’s marks on reverse, with gold mark and kokoshnik mark for St. Petersburg 1908-17 on eyelet, minor enamel damage and wear to the last, generally good very fine (7) £8000-12000

D.S.O. London Gazette 22 August 1918.
The original recommendation states: ‘For exceptional loyalty, thorough understanding of duty and applying the strictest discipline in his Commando. An officer of outstanding merit and capacity especially deserving of reward.’

Russia, Order of St. Stanislas, Third Class, London Gazette 15 February 1917.

Petrus Lafras de Jager, who was born in Harrismith District in Orange Free State in May 1870, served as a Captain & Adjutant on Botha’s staff in Natal and the Transvaal in the period September 1899 to June 1902; the award of his D.T.D. was approved in July 1921.

He subsequently served as a Major in the Pier Retief Commando in German South-West Africa from October 1914 to August 1915, was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, and was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 30 June 1916 and 8 February 1917), as well as being created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. He was also awarded the Third Class of the Russian Order of St. Stanislaus. He was discharged as unfit for further duty in December 1916.

Note: Just 18 recipients of the D.T.D. went on to win a D.S.O. for the Great War.