Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War Divisional Cavalry Commander’s C.B. and Boer War group of twelve awarded to Major-General R. L. Mullens, who served with the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays) in South Africa and was severely wounded at Leeukop in April 1902; he later commanded the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards in France in 1914 where it was the first British regiment to engage German troops in the Great War, and afterwards commanded the 1st Cavalry Division until April 1919

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (Capt: & Adjt: R. L. Mullens, 2/Drgn: Gds:); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Maj. & Adjt. R. L. Mullens. 2/Drgn. Gds.); 1914 Star (Lt: Col: R. L. Mulens. 4/D. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Maj. Gen. R. L. Mullens.); Defence Medal; Jubilee 1897, silver; Coronation 1911; Belgium, Order of the Crown, Commander’s neck badge, gilt and enamels, of recent manufacture; Belgium, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R.; France, Croix de Guerre, avec Palmes, campaign medals mounted court-style for display, good very fine or better (12) £4,000-£5,000

C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

M.I.D. London Gazette 20 October 1914; 9 December 1914; 17 February 1915; 1 January 1916; 4 January 1917; 11 December 1917; and 20 December 1918.

Richard Lucas Mullens was born on 25 February 1871, and educated at Eton. He was commissioned into the 16th Lancers in 1890, transferred to the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays) in 1896, and was promoted to Captain in 1899. He served in South Africa as Adjutant of the regiment and was present in operations on the Orange Free State, including actions at Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River and Zand River. Operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill. Operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, including action at Elands River. Operations in Orange River Colony, including actions at Bethlehem and Wittebergen. Operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River 1899-1900, including actions at Colesburg. Operations in the Transvaal, March to April 1902; Operations in Orange River Colony, January to March 1902, April 1902; Operations in Cape Colony, December 1901 to January 1902, April to May 1902. He was severely wounded and mentioned in despatches for valuable work in action at Holspruit (Leeukop) on 1 April 1902 (Despatches, London Gazette 10 September 1901, and 18 July 1902; Brevet of Major; Queen’s medal with 4 clasps; King’s medal with 4 clasps).

From 1903 to 1905 he was at the Staff College, and after holding an appointment as a Brigade Major was given command of the 4th Dragoon Guards in 1911. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he took the 4th Dragoon Guards to France where, on 22 August 1914, C Squadron of the Regiment became the first unit of the B.E.F. to engage the enemy in action. On this date they charged a column of Uhlans outside Mons, Belgium, capturing a number of prisoners. Two days later, the 9th Lancers and the 4th Dragoon Guards attempted a charge across an open field at Audregnies. Facing an unbroken German line of rifle, machine-gun and artillery fire, their ranks were decimated. Within two months  Mullens was selected to command 2 Cavalry Brigade (4th Dragoon Guards, 9th Lancers, and 18th Hussars) and, after 12 months in this command he was promoted to the command of 1 Cavalry Division, and retained the appointment until April 1919. He was made a C.B. in January 1917, and retired in 1920.

Sold with comprehensive research including copied Medal Index Card which possibly suggests that Great War medals were replaced ‘11/11/83’ but the trio offered above appear to be original issues.