Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Reverend F. A. Hill, Army Chaplain’s Department, who was noted for his Gallantry at the battle of Belmont 23 November 1899 when he ‘followed the fighting line and administered the last consolation of Sacrament to the dying, standing erect where no man dared to show himself amidst the hail of bullets’

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (Rev: F. A. Hill,); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Rev: F. A. Hill. C. To F.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (Rev: F. A. Hill. A.C.D.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Rev. F. A. Hill); together with the recipient’s related miniature awards and riband bar, toned, very fine and better (5) £600-£800

M.I.D London Gazette 1 January 1916.

Frederick Archer Hill was appointed Chaplain to the Forces, Fourth Class on 28 November 1895 and served in South Africa during the Boer War, where he was noted for bravery attending wounded under fire at the battle of Belmont:
‘Here Chaplain Hill, of the ninth Brigade, covered himself with honours. He followed the fighting line and administered the last consolation of Sacrament to the dying, standing erect where no man dared to show himself amidst the hail of bullets. It was a noble and inspiring picture; the fallen soldier prone in the grip of death; the priest upright and serene; around on every side the tumult of battle and the rush of the storming line.’ (With the Flag to Pretoria, by F. J. Waugh refers).

The April 1900 edition of the Sphere gives further details:
‘At Belmont the Grenadiers were scaling the steep kopje, and men were falling fast. From one wounded soldier to another went Church of England Chaplain Rev. F. A. Hill, lifting a head here, giving water there, commending a departing soul to the God who gave it. “Go back, Padre, go back!” said an officer. “No,” he replied, “I’m in my right place here”.’

For his services in South Africa Hill was mentioned by the Chaplain General:
‘The Chaplain General went on to say that all the Chaplains mentioned were Commissioned Chaplains. It was not easy to state the present location of the men. He knew, however, that the Rev. F. A. Hill (who had been specially mentioned for his bravery and devotion at Belmont) and the Rev. T. F. Falkner were with Lord Methuen’s force’ (London Standard 15 December 1899).

Hill saw further service during the Great War with the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front from 19 August 1914.

Sold with various shoulder rank insignia, buttons and shoulder strap; 1895 Commission document; Degree, Deacon, and Priest certificates; 1902 dated Prayer Book; Passport,; various newspaper cuttings; and four photographs of Hill in uniform; and other copied research.