Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Boer War Medal awarded to Captain Jack Cayzer, 7th Dragoon Guards, Director of Signalling with Buller’s Natal Field Force, three times mentioned in despatches and the first man to make contact with the besieged garrison at Ladysmith

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (Capt. J. S. Cayzer, 7 Dn. Gds.) minor edge bruising, nearly extremely fine £600-700

Ex D.N.W. 27 June 2002, lot 581.

John Saunders Cayzer was the second son of Sir Charles Cayzer, of Gartmore, Perthshire, Conservative Member of Parliament. At the age of 20 he joined the 4th Dragoon Guards, and transferred as a Lieutenant to the 7th Dragoon Guards in 1893. He was promoted Captain in 1898, and in the following year served in South Africa as Signalling Officer with the Natal Field Force. He was chief signalling officer with Sir Redvers Buller throughout the fighting on the Tugela, and was the officer who established and maintained visual communication with the Ladysmith garrison during its’ investment.

The following extract is taken from “A Victorian Shipowner - A Portrait of Sir Charles Cayzer, Baronet of Gartmore”, privately published, 1978: ‘It was not until 1 December that he [Cayzer] made communication with Ladysmith from a lonely hilltop of the ironstone Mukalombo Mountain, seven miles south-east of Weenen, with no water nearer than seven miles. “Of course it is now a very important situation,” he wrote, “as we are the only people in touch with Ladysmith. Besides official messages, we are now sending press and private messages,” he continued. “We work day and night, helio by day and limelight by night.”

‘When he had first received a response from Ladysmith, it had occurred to Jack Cayzer that maybe, by some dreadful mistake, he was communicating with a Boer outpost. Among the officers in the Ladysmith garrison was an old friend of his and he at once ordered a message to be transmitted: “For Captain Armitage. Please send back message stating name of house of Captain Jack Cayzer’s father in Renfrewshire.” That would stump the Boers and save him from a court martial if he was being hoodwinked. But all was well. Back came a message that put his fears at rest: “Captain Cayzer’s father’s house called Ralston. Regards Armitage.” Not until much later did he learn that his friend had been very puzzled by his request. “That fellow Cayzer - deuced bad memory he must have. Can’t even remember the name of his father’s house.”

Captain Cayzer was three times mentioned in despatches by Buller, and made Brevet Major for his services during the war. In his despatch dated 30 March 1900, Buller stated: ‘Did excellent work as Director of Signalling; he established, and satisfactorily maintained, constant communication with Ladysmith under very exceptional circumstances.’

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