Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Boer War D.C.M. group of six awarded to Battery Sergeant-Major James Tatton, Royal Garrison Artillery, for the skilful handling of the 6-inch Howitzer in the attack on Balmoral in November 1900; he was subsequently wounded by the accidental explosion of the same gun in May 1901

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (74816 Sjt: J. Tatton. 92nd Coy. R.G.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (74816 Sgt. J. Tatton, 15th Coy. S.D., R.G.A.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (74816 Serjt: J. Tatton. R.G.A.); British War Medal (74816 W.O. Cl. II. J. Tatton. R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (74816 C.S. Mjr: J. Tatton. R.G.A.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (74816 W.O. Cl. I. J. Tatton. D.C.M. R.A.) the earlier medals with contact marks, nearly very fine, the last good very fine (6) £2400-3000

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

M.I.D. London Gazette 10 September 1901.

M.S.M. awarded under terms of Army Order 98 of 1953 without annuity.

‘On the night of the 18th November [1900] the telegraph wires on each side of Balmoral were cut, and explosions in both directions indicated that the railway line had been tampered with. At 3.30 a.m. on the 19th November firing began on South West Hill, which was occupied by “A” Company, consisting of Captain Finch Hatton, Second-Lieutenant Trueman, and forty-nine non-commissioned officers and men. The firing continued for half an hour, and then it was seen the Boers had captured the hill. Fire was now opened by the Boers on the camp, on the north by two guns and a pom-pom, and by a large party of Boers in the Poort. Other parties attacked the post at East Railway Bridge, and an attack by about 100 was made on South Hill, which was reinforced by the Mounted Infantry of the King’s Liverpool Regiment. The Railway Station was shelled, a pom-pom shell damaging one of the telegraph instruments. Gun and pom-pom shells were also directed to the 6-in. howitzer, in the gun-pit in the camp, and as the tents were in the rear of it, they were riddled with shrapnel bullets. No casualties, however, occurred from the Boer shells. The 6-in. howitzer, the only gun in camp, ably handled by Sergeant Tatton, R.G.A., did excellent work. One shell placed on South West Hill, soon after it was captured, killed two Boers and wounded three others, but failed to burst, or it would have done much more damage. Another shell put one of the Boer guns out of action, and another obliged the pom-poms to retire. In all 48 shells were fired in various directions during the six hours the attack lasted, and to those who know what a howitzer of this size is like, the hard work can be imagined.’

‘On the night of 18th May [1901] a party of Boers tried to cross the line three miles east of Balmoral. The Ganger’s Hut being engaged with them, the 6-inch howitzer was ordered to fire two shells, as the Boers were within range of it. On the first shot being fired the shell burst in the howitzer and blew it to bits, some of the pieces being found nearly a mile away; two of the gunners were killed on the spot and ten wounded [including Sergeant Tatton]. Had the howitzer not been inside the gun pit, the casualties must have been much heavier. Captain Mairis had a narrow escape. The wounded gunners were sent to hospital at Pretoria the next day, and the two gunners killed were buried in the little cemetery near Lindeque’s Farm, everyone off duty attending the funeral, also the band and drums; Lieutenant-Colonel Backhouse read the funeral service.’

The above extracts were taken from With “The Buffs” in South Africa which also illustrates the remains of the 6-inch Howitzer after the explosion. Sold with medal roll extract and copied m.i.c. which confirms entitlement to British War Medal only.