The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private L. Chichester, 14th Middlesex (Inns of Court) Rifle Volunteers and City of London Imperial Volunteers, later Lieutenant, Imperial Yeomanry, who was killed whilst gallantly defending a kopje at Middlepost Farm on 6 February 1902

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Belfast, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, date clasp block loose on riband (D117 Pte. L. Chichester, C.I.V.) and additionally engraved ‘Lieut. I.Y. 1901-1902’, and housed in a fitted red leather display case; Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry Medal 1900-1902, 3rd Battalion, South Africa 1901-1902 (Lieut. L. Chichester.) nearly extremely fine (2) £1,000-£1,400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Provenance: Glendining’s, March 1974.

Lionel Chichester was born in Charlton, Kent, in 1873, one of five children of Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Chichester and his wife Alice, and was educated at Charterhouse. Following his father into the Army and initially joining the 14th Middlesex (Inns of Court) Rifle Volunteers, he served with their detachment during the Boer War as part of the reinforcement draft of No. 2 Mounted Infantry Company, City Imperial Volunteers. Returning to England with this Corps in October 1900, he volunteered to serve the Empire a second time, receiving a Lieutenant’s commission in the Imperial Yeomanry and going out once more to South Africa in February 1901. He was attached to the 11th (Yorkshire Dragoons) Company, 3rd Battalion, and was killed in action in a heroic stand at Middleport Farm, Calvinia on 6 February 1902.

Shortly after his death, the North Devon Journal, 20 February 1902, wrote the following tribute:
‘Thursday’s papers contain the news that Lieutenant Lionel Chichester, Imperial Yeomanry, had fallen in action at Dohoop, near Calvinia, South Africa, on the 6th inst.; and thus one of the oldest and most respected North Devon families has been plunged into mourning. The deceased, who was the second surviving son of the late General Hugh Chichester, and Mrs. Chichester, of Pilton House, Barnstaple, was for some years engaged in the firm of Messrs. Longmans, publishers. In the summer of 1900 he volunteered for service with the C.I.V.s and saw action several times with General Buller’s force in the operations round Belfast and Lyndenburg, returning in September of the same year and resuming his profession in London. When the further draft of Yeomanry was raised in the early part of 1901 Mr. Chichester received a commission and sailed with the first batch of 200 men that left England in the Royal Mail ship “Scott.” After proceeding to the Yeomanry depot at Capetown, deceased was transferred to the 11th Company 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Dragoons near Kimberley, remaining with Lord Methuen’s force until the end of April 1901. He was then removed with his Company to Colonel Doran’s column operating in the north-west of Cape Colony, with Graaf Reinett as headquarters. Afterwards the column carried on operations in the Calvinia district. Lieutenant Chichester spent a few days at Cape Town at Christmas, and towards the end of January rejoined his column near Ceres. It was within a week of this that he met his death while engaged with a detached force, which was surprised at night. It was always his aim in life to make soldiering his profession, but his ambition was prevented (owing to his having weak sight) until he was eventually accepted for service in the C.I.V. Lieutenant Chichester was a very keen all round sportsman, was an old Carthusian, and a member of the North Devon Cricket Club. he was in his 29th year.’

More specifics of the heroic nature of the action which led to his death are to be found in Mildred Dooner’s Last Post:
‘When he fell, a position, which was fiercely attacked by Smut’s Commando, had to be held, and few men were available. Sir A. Conan Doyle states, “the Yeomen fought like veterans.” A ridge was committed to the charge of Lieutenants Chichester and Tabor, with eleven men of the I.Y., their instructions being “to hold it to the death.” The order was obeyed with the utmost heroism, both officers and six men being killed, and two wounded.’

Additionally, under Dooner’s entry relating to Lieutenant Tabor is the following:
‘The late Lieutenant Spratt I.Y. describing the action in a private letter wrote: “Meanwhile the kopje where Chichester and the 11th I.Y. were, was rushed by the Boers. Tabor lay there, the top of his head shot away and Chichester with his helmet crushed down over his face, streaming with blood. Six men lay dead beside them. They had fought gallantly.” Sergeant Ward was also killed, but as he fell he shot his opponent through the head with his revolver.’

Chichester’s name is inscribed on the tablet in the War Memorial Cloister at Charterhouse and also on marble memorial tablets in the Church of St. John the Baptist, Bishop Tawton Church, Devon, and St. Nicholas Church, Alfold, Surrey.

Sold together with the recipient’s Freedom of the City of London parchment certificate

For the recipient’s father’s Indian Mutiny medal, see Lot 37.