Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War D.S.O. group of six awarded to Captain E. J. G. Upton, Hampshire Imperial Yeomanry, who afterwards settled in South Africa and fought in G.S.W. Africa with Brands Free State Rifles

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (Captain E. J. G. Upton, Imp: Yeo:); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt. E. J. G. Upton. I.Y.); 1914-15 Star (Lt. E. J. G. Upton Brands F.S. Rfls.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Lt. E. J. G. Upton.) the Victory Medal unnamed, mounted as worn, extremely fine (6) £1,600-£2,000

D.S.O. London Gazette 31 October 1902: ‘In recognition of services in recent operations in South Africa.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 29 July 1902.

The following recommendation for the D.S.O. was submitted by Lieutenant-Colonel F. L. Bannon, commanding 17th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry on 12 May 1902:

‘Captain E. J. G. Upton, Senior Captain - served in the ranks of the old I.Y. till given a commission in the new 17th Battn. Promoted Captain 25th May 01. Served since Febry 1900.

Nature of recommendation: A thoroughly reliable officer who has done good work on several occasions.

1. On 17th Sept 01 I made a night march with 70 of this officers men. Shortly after daybreak a laager was located 1500 yards away which I attacked. It was in a great measure owing to Captain Upton’s celerity in carrying out his orders that 17 adult Boers & 5 lads were captured.

2. On the 10th Oct 01 when Col H. Williams’ col engaged Nieuwhoudt & Hertzog near Jagersfontein this officer with 25 men, on his own initiative galloped a kopje under a cross fire & took 2 field cornets & 8 men prisoners.’

A lengthier report on the above actions was published in The Times on 2 December 1901.

Edward James Gott Upton was born in Loughton, Essex, on 17 October 1868, son of Major R. D. Upton, 9th Lancers, and Sophia Upton (née Turner). He was educated at Durham School and was working as a clerk when he attested for the Imperial Yeomanry at Canterbury on 8 January 1900, aged 31 years 2 months. He served in South Africa as a trooper in the 11th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, receiving a commission as a Lieutenant in the 50th (Hants) Squadron, 17th Battalion I.Y. in March 1901, and becoming Captain on 25 May 1901. He was present in operations in the Orange Free State and in the engagements at Wittebergen. He was mentioned in despatches, awarded the Queen’s Medal with three clasps, the King’s Medal with two clasps, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.

Upton settled in South Africa after the war and purchased Waschbank Farm in the Wepener district, Orange River Colony, in June 1903, where he raised Shorthorn cattle. He served with Brand’s Horse in the suppression of the Boer Rebellion in 1914 and in the European War in 1915 in German South-West Africa, Otzimbingue and Otavifontein. He married, in 1914, Joanna, second daughter of Vice-Admiral Wiliam Wilson, of Clyffe Manor, Swindon, Wiltshire.

Sold with a comprehensive selection of original documents and photographs including Warrant for D.S.O., Commission as Lieutenant, purchase agreement of farm Waschbank