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I picked this up in the October 2014 DNW auction as a single. I did not have time to look into it properly and do not bid for gallantry awards as they are typically above my pay grade – but this looked too good not to try. To my surprise I got it at the very low end of the estimate- which itself was a fraction of what the Medal Yearbook quotes for a Boer War DCM. Have I got a good deal or is there something suspect? The name is spelt incorrectly on the medal – Frances not Francis – but otherwise looks ok? Opinions appreciated.

Walter Edmund Francis was one of the first to enlist with the Imperial Light Horse as evidenced by his low unit number (167) and the date 22–9-99 (ie just before the war officially declared). He and his brother were noted lion hunters and were as used as scouts enjoying “many a rifle duel with the enemy”.

The unit information on this website shows what an outstanding unit the ILH was. I think Walter was in A squadron so not present at Elandslaagte/Defence of Ladysmith but he was involved in the Relief of Ladysmith, so got QSA bars for Tugela Heights and Relief of Ladysmith. He was then with that part of the ILH that moved in mid-April around to Kimberley to join Mahons column formed for the relief of Mafeking – he thus got that rare double relief bar combination on his QSA. The column set off on 4 May and on 13 May the ILH were attacked at Maritzani and lost 6 men - one of them Francis. These men are commemorated on a memorial obelisk erected on the farm Neverset.

He is mentioned both in Bullers (30-03-00) and Roberts (2-04-01) dispatches. Still a lot of research to do – in particular for what the DCM was awarded for. The ILH got 13 DCMs in the Boer war out of a total of just over 2000.

I was going to bid for that but another purchase drained the account. I think you got a good buy.

I have noticed South African gallantry doesn't do so well in the UK on auction.

That is a nice medal. Spelling mistakes are quite common.

Remember there were only about 130 South African DCM's and almost 2000 British ones, so you have a rare thing there.

Enjoy!
Ryan

Jon

It is an excellent medal and you are fortunate to have it, especially at a bargain price.

Regards
Brett

Well done, Jon.
I have his brother's medal ( H F Francis) , also named up as a Tpr in the ILH although he was later killed as a Captain in Steinaeckers Horse.Could never work out why it was named up to the earlier unit and rank.
Regards
Mike

Hi Jon

With my very strong interest in the ILH, I intended bidding on the Francis DCM, but with visits from the family I forgot about the auction till the day after!!

The ILH formed part of the Southern Column under Col Mahon that was formed to relieve the besieged garrison at Mafeking. On 13 May 1900 they formed the advance and flank guard and mid-afternoon the ILH scouts reported a large body of Boers that seemed determined to head off and attack the column. While moving through thick bush near the Maritzani River, the attack by Commandant Liebenberg and the Potchefstroom Commando materialised. A serious engagement, lasting some 45 minutes, ensued. When the column’s gunners found the enemy with their shrapnel, the Boers withdrew, but desultory firing still went on till after dark. The ILH suffered the bulk of the casualties, with 7 killed and 14 wounded.




QSA 2 bars RoM, Tvl 925 Tpr. W.B. Eyton, Imp: Lt. Horse; KSA 2 bars SA’01, SA’02 925 Tpr. W.B. Eyton, Imp: Lt. Horse; SA Medal for War Services (Unnamed as issued)
Mounted as worn: the QSA is an unskimmed 1st Reverse issue which is very seldom found to locally raised SA units.

William Boucher Eyton enlisted in the 1st ILH at East London on 20 April 1900 and less than a month later he was severely wounded in the Maritzani skirmish. He was discharged at Johannesburg on 24 January 1902. I wish I knew what type of voluntary service he did in WWII.

Henk

I share Henk's "very strong interest in the ILH", so it is gratifying when this forum carries posts relating to the ILH. I have neither a gallantry decoration, nor a Maritzani casualty represented in my ILH collection, so there is much to admire in these posts.

Regards
Brett