Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. Including a superb collection of medals to the King’s German Legion, Police Medals from the Collection of John Tamplin and a small collection of medals to the Irish Guards

Pair: Captain C. W. McD. Findlay, The Gordon Highlanders

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Elandslaagte, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (Capt., Gordon Highrs.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt., Gord. Hgrs.) one clasp rivet tightened, minor contact marks, very fine or better (2) £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to The Gordon Highlanders and Associated Units from the Collection of A.J. Henderson.

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Charles William McDiarmid Findlay was born in Edinburgh in October 1872 and was educated at Fettes. Commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders in May 1895, he was advanced to Lieutenant in November 1897 and to Captain in July 1900.

At the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa, he was Transport Officer of the 2nd Battalion, which appointment he retained until he was severely wounded at Elandslaagte on 21 October 1899. By the time he had sufficiently recovered to rejoin the Battalion, it was under siege in Ladysmith, and he consequently joined the column sent to relieve that place.

During his time with the Relief Force, Findlay was present in the action at Colenso, the operations of 17 to 24 February 1900, the action at Spion Kop, the operations of 5-7 February, the action at Vaal Kranz, the operations on the Tugela Heights from 14-27 February and the action at Pieter’s Hill. Attached to the Volunteer Ambulance Corps for much of this time, he was mentioned in despatches by Sir Redvers Buller, V.C.

On rejoining the 2nd Battalion, Findlay resumed his duties as Transport Officer and was present at the actions at Belfast on 26 and 27 August 1900, and at Lydenberg between 5-8 September, having previously been present in the fighting around Laing’s Nek in June of that year. He was again mentioned in despatches for his services here and for a third time in Lord Kitchener’s final despatch, in addition to receiving the Queen’s Medal with six clasps and the King’s Medal with two.