Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Captain A. R. Peel, South Wales Borderers, attached Nigerian Mounted Infantry, who was killed in action leading his men in a bayonet charge at Kosseoa, Cameroons, 17 November 1914 - the Regiment’s only ‘African’ casualty of 1914

1914-15 Star (Capt. A. R. Peel. S. Wales Bord.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. A. R. Peel.) good very fine and rare to an officer casualty for this theatre (3) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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The following is given in The Roll of Honour:

‘Captain Alan Ralph Peel South Wales Borderers (24th Regiment), eldest surviving son of Herbert Peel, of Taliaris Park, county Carmarthen. Born Taliaris Park 7 July 1886. Educated Cheltenham College and Sandhurst. Gazetted 2nd lieutenant to the South Wales Borderers 24 January 1906. Promoted lieutenant 1 December 1907, and captain 12 September 1914. Served with the 1st Battalion in India 1907-9, and at Pretoria 1910. Attached to the South African Mounted Infantry February 1911, and quartered at Harrismith and Bloemfontein to 1912 in which year he was seconded to the West African Frontier Force (Nigeria Regiment).

Returning home on furlough in 1914, he was the same year seconded for service with the Nigerian Mounted Infantry, and left again for Africa in June; he was killed in action leading a bayonet charge, at Kossoea, near Marna, North Cameroons, 17 November 1914. His commanding officer wrote as follows: “I had made application for him to join me, knowing his ability. You have the honour of knowing no soldier could have met a more gallant death, viz. at the head of his men, leading them to the charge and showing an example of great bravery. He was buried with all honours by the Captain of the French company with whom he was operating at the time. The latter wrote: “I paid the funeral honours... to the two brave English officers MM. le Capt. A. R. Peel and Lieut. Percival, who fell on the field of honour while giving to their men an example of great bravery”. The Commandant Nigeria Regiment wrote as follows: “To lighten your sorrow you have the honour of knowing that your son died in a manner worthily upholding the finest traditions of the Service, and setting an example of valour to the whole regiment among whom he was deservedly known as a brave and upright officer and the best of good comrades”.

Captain Peel is commemorated on the Zaria Memorial, Nigeria and is the regiment’s only ‘African’ casualty of 1914. Further details of his death are given in The Carmarthen Journal & South Wales Weekly Advertiser, 12 March 1915:

‘It is stated that the Captain arrived at Kosseoa entered the village without seeing any signs of the enemy, and proceeded to water and feed the horses. He made some enquiries of some of the inhabitants, who treacherously told him that there were no Germans in the neighbourhood, and that they had never seen any. Very soon the advance scouts reported the presence of the enemy in the near front. Captain A. R. Peel handed over the horses to the No. 3 and sent them behind the village. He himself, with the remainder of the men at his disposal, advanced towards the southern end of the village, and almost immediately came into contact with the enemy, formed his men in extended lines, advanced by rushes and charged with the bayonet when within about thirty yards of the enemy, who had got down into a little “donga”. He himself was the first killed, leading his men to the charge, and falling dead into the “donga” shot through the heart. At this moment Lieutenant Percival, who had not previously joined up, appeared on the scene of action with his section, reinforced those already engaged, and also charged their position. He, too, was immediately shot. Two native sergeants and one private were also killed and three men wounded. The men, who, were naturally shaken by their leaders having been shot down in this manner, then retired, apparently in good order as they brought away their wounded, and must have behaved well under trying circumstances.’

Sold with copied research, including photographic image of recipient in uniform.