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DCM VR (2961 Clr: Serjt: J. Butler. Hampshire Regt.);
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, South Africa 1901 (2961 C. Sgt. J. Butler, 2nd Hampshire Regt.);
1914-15 Star (4-1827 W.O. Cl. 1. J. Butler. Hamps. R.);
British War and Victory Medals, with MID (1827 W.O. Cl. 1. J. Butler. Hamps. R.);
Army LS&GC Ed VII (2961 C. Sjt: J. Butler. Hants: R.)

Only 10 DCMs. to the Hampshire Regiment for the Boer War 1899-1902.

DCM London Gazette 27 September 1901.

MID London Gazettes 10 September 1902; 5 April 1916 (Mesopotamia); 19 October 1916 (Mesopotamia).

James Butler was born in the Parish of St Lawrence, Ramsgate, Kent, and enlisted into the Hampshire Regiment on 16 January 1890, aged 18 years. He served in South Africa with the 2nd Battalion as a Colour-Sergeant, from 4 January 1900 to 1 April 1901, and, according to his Military History Sheet, was ‘awarded Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field, 29.11.00 (sic)’.

He was posted to the 1st Volunteer Battalion as Colour-Sergeant Instructor in October 1905, and transferred to the 4th Battalion in January 1910. He was appointed Acting Sergeant-Major in February 1911, and Quartermaster Sergeant in May 1912, seeing service during the Great War in India from October 1914. In March 1915 he left India for Mesopotamia as part of the Indian Expeditionary Force “D”, becoming Acting Regimental Sergeant-Major once more in December 1915, and returned to India in April 1916 and back to the U.K. in June 1916. He was appointed Regimental Quarter-Master Sergeant in August 1917 and was demobilised on 28 March 1919. For his services during the Great War he was twice Mentioned in Despatches.

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DCM Ed VII (4050 Dmr: C. Haigh. 1st. W. Riding Regt.);
QSA (4) Relief of Ladysmith, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (4050 Dr: C. Haigh, W. Riding Regt.);
KSA (2) (4050 Dmr: G. [sic] Haigh. W. Riding Regt.);
1914-15 Star (3-12061 Cpl.-A-Sjt. C. Haigh. W. Rid. R.);
British War and Victory Medals (3.12061 A.Sjt. C. Haigh. W. Rid. R.)

DCM London Gazette 27 September 1901.

Charles Haigh was born in Bradford in 1876. A labourer, he attested at Bradford for the West Riding Regiment on 4 January 1894 and was immediately posted as Private to the 1st Battalion at Halifax. Sent to Malta between 1895 and 1898, he was transferred to South Africa on 29 December 1899 for service during the Boer War. Arriving aboard Orient, the 1st Battalion served as part of the VIth Division under General Kelly-Kenny, the Division soon distinguishing themselves in the advance from Modder River to Bloemfontein. Engaged at Klip Drift and Paardeberg, the West Ridings later lost Colonel Lloyd in an attempt to seize Rhonoster Kop.

Raised Lance Corporal on 2 March 1900, Haigh spent much of 1901 employed with the 1st Battalion in the Central Transvaal. On 31 August 1901, they had the grievous misfortune to lose 7 men killed, as well as 2 officers and 14 men wounded or injured, in the derailing of a train at Hamman’s Kraal. Lord Kitchener, referring to the incident, said: ‘Although it may be admitted that the mining of railways and the derailment of trains is in no way opposed to the customs of war where any definite object is in view, it is impossible to regard senseless and meaningless acts of this nature, which have no effect whatever on the general course of operations, as anything better than wanton murder.’

Mentioned in Despatches shortly afterwards on 10 September 1901, Haigh’s gallantry at around this time was further recognised by his superiors with the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Returned home to Barnsley after almost three years in South Africa, he was later discharged from the Army in 1910. He returned to fight during the Great War, and was killed in action on 2 March 1916 whilst serving with the 9th Battalion, West Riding Regiment. He has no known grave and is commemorated upon the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Several DCMs went under the hammer today on London.

Gunner C H Fox, 76th RGA, sold for a hammer price of GBP 1,500. Totals: GBP 1,932. R 44,250. AUD 3,570. NZD 3,800. CAD 3,180. USD 2,340. EUR 2,170

Sergeant J Murdison, KOSB, sold for a hammer price of GBP 1,400. Totals: GBP 1,803. R 41,300. AUD 3,330. NZD 3,550. CAD 2,970. USD 2,190. EUR 2,030

Sergeant F Sharp, 84th RFA, sold for a hammer price of GBP 1,100. Totals: GBP 1,417. R 32,450. AUD 2,620. NZD 2,790. CAD 2,330. USD 1,720. EUR 1,590

Colour Sergeant J Butler, Hampshires, did not sell

Sergeant C Haigh, West Riding Regiment, sold for a hammer price of GBP 2,000. Totals: GBP 2,576. R 59,000. AUD 4,760. NZD 5,070. CAD 4,240. USD 3,120. EUR 2,890

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DCM Ed VII (Serjt:- Maj: R. J. Stallwood. Canadian Scouts);
[QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and Rhodesia];
[ BWM and VM]

DCM London Gazette 31 October 1902.

Robert Jabez Stallwood was born in Hagersville, Ontario, Canada, in May 1877. He was a Rancher, who enlisted as a Gunner in the Royal Canadian Field Artillery at Kingston, in January 1900. Stallwood initially served during the Second Boer War with ‘C’ (Special Service) Battery, R.C.F.A. He was discharged to join ‘Howard’s Scouts’ (the Canadian Scouts, under the command of Major A. L. ‘Gat’ Howard, a British Irregular unit predominantly manned by Canadians) 12 December 1900.

Stallwood advanced to Sergeant-Major, and was Mentioned in Lord Kitchener's Despatch of 23 June 1902. He was discharged 13 January 1901, only to re-engage for service during the Great War. Stallwood was commissioned Lieutenant in the 228th Canadian Infantry Battalion in March 1916, and embarked for England in February of the following year. He transferred to the 6th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops, and served with them as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the French theatre of war from May 1917. Stallwood returned to Canada in May 1919, and was discharged 15 November 1919.

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DCM Ed VII (11062 Q.M. Serjt: R. Thompson. 50th. Coy. I.Y.);
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Orange Free State, Transvaal (11062 Cpl. R. Thompson. 60th. Coy. 17th. Imp: Yeo:)

DCM London Gazette 31 October 1902. The original Recommendation states: ‘I consider this N.C.O. the best in the battalion. In addition to his duties of Quartermaster Sergeant he has for some months acted as Supply Officer to the Column. He served with the old 17th Imperial Yeomanry and was a good N.C.O. in the field.’

Robert Thompson attested for the Imperial Yeomanry and embarked for South Africa with the 60th (North Irish Horse (Belfast)) Company, 17th Battalion on 6 April 1900. He was promoted Quartermaster Sergeant, and continued to served with the 17th Battalion in South Africa with the 50th (Hampshire) Company until disembarking back in England n 25 June 1902. For his services during the Boer War he was both Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 29 July 1902) and awarded the DCM.

The pair to Sergeant Thompson sold yesterday for a hammer price of GBP 1,900. Totals: GBP 2,447. R 56,870. AUD 4,560. NZD 4,890. CAD 4,040. USD 2,990. EUR 2,750

Sgt Major Stallwood's single DCM sold for a hammer price of GBP 2,600. Totals: GBP 3,349. R 77,830. AUD 6,240. NZD 6,690. CAD 5,520. USD 4,090. EUR 3,760