Auction Catalogue

23 June 2005

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 157

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23 June 2005

Hammer Price:
£600

A “Saving the Guns” Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to Gunner William Wilson, who was dangerously wounded at the battle of Colenso when 14th Battery Royal Field Artillery fought to the last by their guns and six Victoria Crosses were won trying to save them and another for tending the wounded under fire

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Ladysmith (71471 Gnr. W. T. Wilson, 14th Bty. R.F.A.) edge bruising and heavily polished, thus fine £400-500

Gunner William Wilson was dangerously wounded at the battle of Colenso on 15 December 1899. 14th and 66th Batteries were galloped too close to the Boers and in advance of the infantry by Colonel Long, the ‘damned gunner’ that Buller subsequently blamed for his defeat at Colenso. In the face of withering fire from the Boers across the river, the officers and men fought their guns to the last. 14th Battery had one officer and seven other ranks killed and two officers and 32 other ranks wounded. Four officers and 23 men were taken prisoner after taking cover in the donga. The gallantry of the artillery can be found mentioned in all the histories of the War. After the Gunners had been shot down, the four guns, together with three from 66th Battery, stood abandoned on the veldt. General Buller asked for volunteers to save the guns and in the ensuing acts of heroism, six Victoria Crosses were won, including that by Lieut F. H. S. Roberts, the son of Field-Marshal Lord Roberts.