Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The mounted group of ten miniature dress medals attributed to Major-General Sir John Geoge Dartnell, K.C.B., C.M.G., Colonel Commandant of the Natal Volunteer and Mounted Police Forces, Order of the Bath, Military Division, gold and enamel, straight bar suspension, gold buckle on ribbon; Order of St, Michael and St. George, gold and enamel, ring suspension; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, E.VII.R.; Indian Mutiny 1857-58, 1 clasp, Central India; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Bhootan; South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879; Cape of Good Hope General Service 1880-97, 1 clasp, Basutoland; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps; Natal 1906, no clasp, mounted ordinary style, good very fine and better (10) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Carol Benton Collection of Miniature Medals.

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The recipient’s medals and miniatures were previously sold in Glendining’s 6 July 1983.

John George Dartnell was born in London, Ontario in 1838. Serving in the Army, 1855-69, he saw action in the Indian Mutiny, serving with the Central India Field Force, being severely wounded, receiving the brevet of Major and mentioned in despatches. In the Bhootan Expedition he served as A.D.C. to Major-General Tombs. Extensive service with the Natal Police followed, for which he was awarded medals for the Zulu War, Basuto War, Boer War and Zulu Rebellion. He was latterly Chief Commissioner of Police and Commandant of Volunteers for Natal.

Sold with a glass-fronted ornate gilt frame bearing a photograph of the recipient and which once held the miniature group and also a modern copied photograph of a testimonial from the Prime Minister, Pietermaritzburg, 14 May 1902, held in a matching glass-fronted gilt frame.