Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War C.B. group of four awarded to Colonel The Honourable R. T. Lawley, 7th Hussars, who commanded his regiment in South Africa and was later 4th Baron Wenlock

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s, breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with swivel-ring bar suspension and ribbon buckle; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Lieut: Hon: R. T. Lawley, 7/Husrs.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt: Col: Hon R. T. Lawley, C.B., 7/Hrs:); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style for display, the second with contact pitting from star, otherwise nearly very fine, the remainder good very fine (4) £2,600-£3,000

Richard Thompson Lawley, 4th Baron Wenlock, was born on 21 August 1856, second son of Beilby Richard, 2nd Baron Wenlock of Escrick Park, Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, and Colonel of the Yorkshire Hussars, by his wife Lady Elizabeth Grosvenor, daughter of 2nd Marquess of Westminster. He was brother of Sir Beilby Lawley, 3rd Baron Wenlock, Governor of Madras (1891-96), whom he succeeded in 1912 as the 4th Baron Wenlock. He was educated at Eton (1870-74) in the Rev. William Wayte’s House where, although not academically gifted, he was a successful cox. He entered the army in 1875, serving throughout with the 7th Hussars, retiring as Colonel of the Regiment in 1904. He served throughout the Nile Expedition of 1884-85 with the Light Camel Regiment, in which the 7th Hussars detachment comprised three officers and 44 other ranks, and took part in the operations of the Desert Column including the engagement at Abu Klea Wells, 16 and 17 February 1885.

After service in Egypt, Lawley served in the Boer War, sailing for the Cape on board the S.S. Templemore, and commanded the 7th Hussars in South Africa from 20 December 1901 to 22 January 1902, after which he commanded a column composed of the Queen’s Bays, 7th Hussars, two guns and a pom-pom from 39th R.F.A., formed at Winburg and operating towards Senekal from 23 January to 31 May 1902, to clear the country in that district of cattle and provisions. He was present during operations in the Transvaal from March to 31 May 1902; Orange River Colony from January to March, and May 1902; Cape Colony from December 1901 to January 1902. He was mentioned in despatches London Gazette 17 June 1902, and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath ‘in recognition of services during operations in South Africa’, London Gazette 26 June 1902. Following a posting at Aldershot, he retired on 2 November 1904. He was married in 1909 to Rhoda Edith, a daughter of Canon Knox-Little. He succeeded his brother as 4th Baron Wenlock in 1912, and died at Hestercombe, Devon, on 25 July 1918.

Sold with full research including various copied photographs together with medal roll and gazette entries saved to CD.