Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Major B. W. Mainprise, Royal Engineers, who was killed in action in East Africa on 12 March 1916

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Lieutt. B. W. Mainprese [sic], R.E.) officially re-engraved naming; 1914-15 Star (Major B. W. Mainprise, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major B. W. Mainprise); together with two Memorial Plaques (Bertie Wilmot Mainprise; Bertie Wilmote Mainprise) one with card envelope of issue, extremely fine (6) £800-£1,200

Bertie Wilmot Mainprise was born in Southsea, Hampshire on 3 November 1874, the son of Wilmot Mainprise, R.N. He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers on 27 February 1894 and was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1897, Captain in April 1904 and Major in February 1914. He served in the operations on the North West Frontier of India, 1897-98 (medal and clasp) and then in operations in China, 1901-02, being mentioned in Major-General Creagh’s despatch for the China Expedition (London Gazette 21 November 1902), and was latterly Inspecting Officer of the Imperial Service Sappers.

Mainprise served during the Great War in the East African theatre of war from November 1914, and took part in the expedition to Tanga and the raid on Bukoba. As Brigade Major of the Volunteer Brigade, he was killed in action in the battle for the Kitovo Hills shortly after midnight on 12 March 1916 - General Smut’s Despatch adds the following details:
‘On the morning of 11 March General van Deventer on the right advanced via Spritz Hill and Kile on the Mamba Mission and the line of the Himo. It was now clear that the enemy had withdrawn from Taveta in two directions, but the exact line of the retirement of his main forces was uncertain... The 4th S.A. Horse were in touch with what appeared to be merely a rearguard on the Moschi road, and an enemy force of unknown strength was in position on the Latema-Reata nek. It was essential to determine if this was only a covering force, or whether the enemy was in such strength as to threaten a counter-attack towards Taveta. In either case it was necessary to drive him from the nek before I could advance beyond Taveta... At 8:00 p.m. it was decided that the best chance of quickly dislodging the enemy from their position on the nek was with the bayonet by night. The operation was no doubt fraught with considerable risk as there was no opportunity of adequately reconnoitring the ground over which the attack must be made... The night advance was ably organised and gallantly led by Lieutenant-Colonel Byron, Commanding 5th South African Infantry... About midnight Colonel Byron reached the nek within 30 yards of the enemy’s main position. The opposition here was very stubborn. At one point Major Mainprise, R.E., Brigade Major, and 22 men were killed by the concentrated fire of three machine-guns and Colonel Byron, who was himself slightly wounded, reached the nek with only 20 men... Our casualties in the engagement were about 270, which cannot be considered excessive in view of the important results gained. We captured, besides rifles and ammunition, a 60mm gun and three machine-guns. Some 40 to 50 enemy dead were found on the position and, as they are always most careful to remove their dead and wounded, there can be no doubt that their casualties were severe.’

Mainprise is buried in Taveta War Cemetery, Kenya. For his wartime services he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 30 June 1916).

Sold with a photographic image of the recipient, copied service papers, war diary extract, and other research.