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Lt Col Twemlow's trio sold for a hammer price of GBP 1,800. Total GBP 2,318. R 53,350. AUD 4,330. NZD 4,670. CAD 3,840. USD 2,840. EUR 2,610

Picture courtesy of Dominic Winter

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, KBE (Civil) Knight Commander’s 1st type badge, silver-gilt and enamel;
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Civil Division, silver-gilt;
DSO VR;
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal;
KSA (2);
1914 Star and bar;
British War and Victory Medals with MID;
Jubilee Medal 1935;
Coronation Medal 1937;
France, Legion of Honour with rosette

Described as:

Sir Ernest Dunlop Swinton (1868-1951) was born in Bangalore and was educated at Rugby and Cheltenham College. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in 1881 advancing to Major in 1906. He received his DSO for the Boer War in September 1901 for his input into Railway Construction.

Swinton was appointed war correspondent on the Western Front by Lord Kitchener. Journalists were not allowed on the front and Swinton’s reports were censored, which caused much controversy.

Swinton is best known for the development of tanks. According to his book Eyewitness, he recounts how he first got the idea to build a tank on 19 October 1914 while driving in France having received a letter a few years earlier from his friend, mining engineer named Hugh F. Marriott. In his letter, Marriot described a machine he had seen in Antwerp, an American Holt Caterpillar Tractor. He suggested that the machine might be useful for transport. Swinton passed this information on to several military and political figures. Nothing more was done about it until war broke out and Swinton suggested to Sir Maurice Hanky, Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence that the construction of a bulletproof, tracked vehicle could destroy enemy machine guns. In 1916 Swinton was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given responsibility for training the newly developed tanks. He created the first tactical instructions for armoured warfare. The Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors decided after the war that the inventors of the tank were Sir William Tritton and Major Gordon Wilson, however, Swinton was awarded £1000 for his contribution.

In 1919 Swinton retired as Major General and served in the Civil Aviation department at the Air Ministry and a series of other posts throughout the 1920s including Citroen. He was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Tank Corps from 1934 to 1938. Swinton had two sons and a daughter who was tragically killed in a road accident involving a tank during WWII.

Swinton died in Oxford in 1951.

The DSO group to Major Wigram Clifford who won the DSO with the LNLR is here: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-...rley?start=306#95819

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

DSO VR;
QSA (5) Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (Lieut: G. P. E. Hunt, R.N, H:M:S Forte);
AGS 1902 (1) Gambia (Commdr: G. P. E. Hunt, D.S.O. R.N.);
British War Medal 1914-20 (Captain G. P. E. Hunt. DSO. RN.) later impressed naming

DSO London Gazette 6 November 1900: ‘In recognition of services during the war in South Africa.’ One of 3 such awards to the Royal Navy for South Africa.

Mentioned in despatches by Captain E. P. Jones, R.N., dated at Ladysmith, 6 March 1900: ‘Lieutenant Hunt has acted as Brigade Major, Quartermaster & Chief of my Staff rolled into one - as well as commanding a 4.7-inch gun, often being uo the greater part of the night with paper work after lomg fatiguing days. His services have been invaluable to me.’

Mentioned in despatches by Captain James, dated at Van Wyk, 14 June 1900, for services on 6th June: ‘I desire particularly to mention Lieut. Hunt, “Forte”, who acts as Chief of Staff for me & gunnery officer. His ability in a tight place, energy & hard work are beyond all praise.’

Mentioned in despatches by General Sir Redvers Buller, 30 March 1900, London Gazette 19 June 1900.

George Percy Edward Hunt was born at Shooling, Southampton, on 15 April 1863, the son of George Jenkins Hunt and Mary Cooper. He was educated at the Merchant Navy Training Ship Conway and, on passing out he entered the Merchant Marine. He obtained a Second Mate Certificate at Liverpool on 13 November 1882, a Mates Certificate on 5 May 1884 and his Masters Certificate on 20 December 1886.

He joined the Royal Navy Reserve as a Sub Lieutenant on 30 June 1890, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 29 October 1894. He was one of a hundred R.N.R. Lieutenants who were invited to join the Royal Navy as a Supplementary Lieutenant in October 1895. He was appointed as a Lieutenant R.N.R. to the cruiser H.M.S. Sybille in January 1895. He served in this vessel with the Mediterranean Fleet for three years and on paying off was appointed to the Duke of Wellington at Portsmouth in June 1898. During the next several months he underwent Gunnery and Torpedo Courses at Excellent and Vernon, and was awarded 1st Class Certificates.

He was next afloat as Gunnery Officer aboard the cruiser Forte in April 1899, for service on the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station. Whilst serving in this vessel he was landed for service with the Naval Brigade during the opening actions of the Boer War. He Commanded a 4.7-inch naval gun and was three times Mentioned in Despatches.

Whilst continuing to serve in Forte he was specially promoted to Commander 'For services in South Africa on 1 January 1902'. He remained with Forte when the ship sailed for Gambia in West Africa, where the Insignia and Warrant were presented to Lieutenant Hunt on board Forte by the Governor of the Gambia in July 1901. A Naval Brigade under Captain Sparkes, with Commander Hunt as Second in Command, was landed from H.M. Ships Dwarf, Forte and Thrush. The ships boats proceeded up river to attack the town of Dunbutu where the murderers [of two travelling Commissioners and their escort in June 1900] were known to live. The troops including the Naval Brigade marched approximately 8 miles to the rebel town and despite a heavy fire the town and its stockade were quickly taken. The British losses were 1 killed and 4 wounded. Those responsible for the murders were captured and later hanged. The Naval Brigade having completed their mission returned to their ships at Bathurst. For his services Hunt was Mentioned in Despatches.

On paying off from Forte he joined Galatea in May 1902 for service with the Home Fleet, and was next appointed to Dido in February 1903, and President, September 1904, for Senior Officers War Course. On passing out he obtained a 1st Class Certificate and joined Empress of India, February 1905, Flag Ship of the Reserve Division at Devonport. Appointed to Barfleur, September 1906, and the Prince George, March 1907. On promotion to Captain on 31 December 1907, he underwent courses in Gunnery, Torpedo and Signals and a further War Course during 1908.

Appointed to the command of the cruiser Ariadne, April 1909, and subsequently the command of the recently built cruiser Newcastle, August 1910. Remained in command whilst the ship served with the China Squadron and on paying off he retired at his own request on 5 July 1913, having reached 50 years of age.

Recalled for war service on 17 August 1914, and appointed to President as Senior Naval Officer Port of London. During August and September 1914 he was engaged in the fitting out of armed merchant cruisers at Tilbury. Their Lordships expressed their high appreciation of his services. On 1 November 1916 he was appointed to Vivid as Assistant to the Captain of Devonport Dockyard and Assistant King's Harbour Master, Harmoaze. In this post he was responsible for various salvage operations, in particular the SS Broadfield in November 1916 and H.M.S. Mars in July 1917. Their Lordships expressed their appreciation of the excellent salvage on these and other occasions.

On 22 August 1917 he was found dead in his official residence with a revolver by his side. The subsequent Court of Enquiry recorded the cause of death as a self inflicted bullet wound to the head while temporarily insane.

Pictures courtesy of Noonan's

DSO VR;
Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued;
Egypt, dated reverse (1) Tel-El-Kebir (Lieut. G. J. Scott. 2/Dn. G...);
QSA (2) Cape Colony, Transvaal (Capt. C. [sic] J. Scott. D/Sq. Pagets H.);
Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued

Together with five related miniature awards.

DSO London Gazette 27 September 1901: ‘In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.’

MID London Gazette 10 September 1901.

George John Scott was born in May 1858, and was educated at Marlborough. He joined the Shropshire Militia in 1875, and was commissioned into the 2nd Dragoon Guards in 1879. Scott served with the 7th Dragoon Guards in Egypt in 1882, and exchanged into the 18th Hussars in 1885.

Scott retired in 1889, only to re-engage for service as a Captain with the 19th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry during the Second Boer War. He served with Paget’s Horse in South Africa, and was present at operations in the Transvaal and Cape Colony, March to November 1900 (DSO and MID)

Scott was invested with his DSO by the King 29 October 1901. He served in the City of London Yeomanry, 1901-1913, and in the 3rd Middlesex Yeomanry, 1915-16, advancing to Lieutenant Colonel.

He married, in 1880, Mary Ethel (who died in 1906), daughter of J F Christy, JP, of Upton, Alresford, Hants.

Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

CB (Military) n/b;
CBE (Military);
DSO DR;
Sudan (Capt H.N.Sargent. A.S.C.);
QSA (6) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek (Major. H.N.Sargent. D.S.O. A.S.C.);
KSA (2) (Major. H.N.Sargent. D.S.O. A.S.C.);
1914 Star and clasp Col: H.N.Sargent. D.S.O.);
BWM and VM with MID (Maj-Gen. H.N.Sargent);
Coronation Medal 1911 (Maj-Gen. H.N.Sargent);
USA Distinguished Service Medal (Maj-Gen. H.N.Sargent);
Khedive's Sudan (1) Khartoum;
France Legion of Honour (Commander) n/b.

CB: Supplement to LG 22/6/1915, p6111 - to Colonel (temporary Brigadier-General) Harry Neptune Sargent, DSO CBE: LG in 1919 (date not known).

DSO: Supplement to LG 26/6/1902, p4192 - to Major Harry Neptune Sargent, Army Service Corps, in recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.

MID: on 8 occasions in LG.

French Legion of Honour: LG details unknown.

USA DSM: Second Supplement to LG 11/7/1919, p8939 - to Colonel (temporary Brigadier-General) Harry Neptune Sargent, CB, DSO.

Harry Neptune Sargent, born 06 Apr 1886, the son of the late Major-General E.W. Sargent; educated at Ireland and entered the Devonshire Regt 10Nov1886; Transferred to Army Service Corps 15 May 1890; to Capt 07 Jan 1892; Adjutant of ASC 01 Jan 1895 to 28 Feb 1898; served with Nile Expedition in 1898 and was present at Battle of Khartoum; employed as Staff Officer to Commandant, Assouan, for British Troops and Stores; MID (LG 30 Sep 1898); to Brevet Major 06 Nov1 898; to Major 01 Apr 1900;

Served in the Boer War as DAAG, 13 Nov 1899 to 08 Jul 1902; took part in Relief of Ladysmith including ops of 17 to 24 Jan 1900 and action at Spion Kop; also ops of 05-07 Feb 1900 and action at Vaal Kranz; also ops on Tugela Heights (14 to 27 Feb1900) and action at Pieter's Hill; took part in ops in Natal (Mar-Jun 1900) including action at Laing's Nek 06-09 Jun); served in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria Jul to Oct 1900; also during ops in Cape Colony Nov & Dec 1899 (Despatches by Sir R.H. Buller, 30 Mar and 09 Nov1900 (LG 8 Feb 1901); appointed Companion of Distinguished Service Order (LG 26 Jun 1902); Invested by the King 18 Dec 1902;

Asst Director of Supplies and Transport, 3rd Army Corps and also Irish Command 01Oct1903 to 31 May 1905 and Deputy A.D.S. and T. 1 Jun 1905 to 30 Sep 1906 and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel 27 Oct 1906; commanded Army Service Corps in Dublin 1906-8 and the Service Companies, ASC, Aldershot 1908-11 being appointed Brevet Colonel 27 Oct 1909 and promoted to Colonel 04 Oct 1911; Colonel in Command ASC Records, Woolwich Dockyard 01 Aug 1912 to 14 Dec 1913 and from 15 Dec1 913 to outbreak of the European War, A.D. of S. and T., Aldershot Command;

Served in the Great War as AQMG. 1st Corps 05 Aug to 26 Dec 1914 and was in the retreat from Maubeuge, the Battles of the Marne and Aisne and the First Battle of Ypres; from 27 Dec 1914 to 21 May 1916 he was D.A. and Q.M.G. of the 5th Army (Temporary Major-General 07 Jul1 916 to 19 Dec 1917); present at the Battles of the Somme, ops south of Arras and the Third Battle of Ypres; was Chief of the British Mission Headquarters, S.O.S. American Expeditionary Force 18 Apr 1918 to Jul 1919;

Married Ethel, daughter of Daniel Twomey of Kolor, Penshurst, Victoria in Australia;

He died 6 Feb 1946.