Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Lieut. W. H. S. Heron Maxwell, 1/7th Foot) toned, very fine and rare £1,200-£1,500

Only 3 Zulu War medals issued to the 7th Foot, one Captain and two Lieutenants.

William Henry Stopford Heron-Maxwell was born on 14 June 1852, second son of Edward Heron-Maxwell-Blair, D.L. of Teviot Bank, County Roxburgh. He was appointed Ensign in the 7th Royal Fusiliers on 3 August 1872, and promoted Lieutenant on 3 August 1874. He served in Natal and the Transvaal, on Special Service, during the Zulu War of 1879. He was attached to the 4th ‘King’s Own’ Regiment and served in the attack against Manyanyoba when, on the 8th September, Colonel Bray, with three companies of the regiment, assisted by the Frontier Light Horse and a detachment of Royal Engineers, blew up the caves known as Umbellini’s, in the neighbourhood of the Intombi River. Manyanyoba, the independent chief who had long given great trouble, surrendered, and the regiment received orders to return (mentioned in despatches; Medal with clasp).

He also served in the Boer War of 1881, with Barrow’s Mounted Infantry, 10 January 1881 to 10 January 1882. Promoted to Captain on 24 May 1883, he served with the 7th Royal Fusiliers in India and took part in operations against the Moplahs, ‘a troublesome and fanatical tribe of Mahommedans on the Malabar coast. After serious riots at Malliapuram, the Moplahs fled to the hills, and took refuge in an old temple at Trekkular, which they loopholed. On the 29th December [1884], a party of Native Police, supported by 50 men of B Company 2nd Royal Fusiliers, under Captain Heron-Maxwell, were sent against the Moplahs, who at once opened fire. It was necessary to blow in the doorway of the temple with dynamite, and, while fixing the bursting charge, Private Miles, of B Company, was shot dead. Private Ralph, also of B Company, at once took his place, and succeeded in laying the charges. The doors were blown open; whereupon the Moplahs rushing out were met with a volley, and killed and wounded almost to a man. The district was disarmed, as far as the Moplahs tribe was concerned, and about 8,000 guns and rifles, and 5,000 spears and swords were brought in. For his gallantry on this occasion, Private Ralph was promoted lance-corporal, and awarded the Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field.’ Shortly afterwards Captain Heron-Maxwell received a letter of congratulation from Sir Frederick Roberts’s Military Secretary, Lieutenant-Colonel Pole Carew.

Captain Heron-Maxwell retired with gratuity in 1887. He was appointed Captain in the Haddington Militia Artillery (S.E. of Scotland R.G. Artillery) on 2 April 1892, and promoted to Major on 13 May 1903. He was afterwards a J.P. for the county of Roxburgh and died at Teviot Bank on 23 May 1927.