Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

Four: Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. C. Heathcote, Cameron Highlanders, who served with Fincastle’s Horse in the Boer War, and with the Royal Flying Corps from September 1914, to become a Squadron Commander and later a Group Captain

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (Lieut., Cam’n. Hdrs.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Capt., Cam’n H. Attd. R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col., R.A.F.) generally good very fine (4) £400-500

John Robert Campbell Heathcote was born on 24 April 1879, and educated at Eton. He joined the Cameron Highlanders as 2nd Lieutenant (from 3rd Battalion Somerset L.I.) on 26 July 1899, becoming Lieutenant in December 1900. He served in the South African War in 1902 with Fincastle’s Horse (Imperial Yeomanry). He had served with the 1st Battalion in Egypt before the South African War, and with the 2nd Battalion in Gibraltar and South Africa. Rejoining the 2nd Battalion he went with it to Hong Kong in 1907, and was appointed A.D.C. to General Broadwood, C.B., commanding troops in China, 16 May 1908. It was during his time in the Far East that Heathcote was mauled by a tiger, which in later years caused health problems that obliged him to retire from the service. On promotion to Captain in March 1910 he returned from China and was posted to the 3rd Battalion at Inverness.

In September 1914, Heathcote joined the Royal Flying Corps as a Flying Officer and became a Squadron Commander in January 1916. He served throughout W.W.I with the Royal Flying Corps, reaching the ranks Lieutenant-Colonel and Group Captain, but he was obliged to retire owing to ill-health. He was a keen sportsman and an exceptionally fine jockey. Lieutenant-Colonel Heathcote died on 15 July 1947.