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Picture courtesy of Harpers

[MM LG 3.7.17 (likely Battle of the Scarpe, Arras)]
QSA (5) CC OFS Tr 01 02 (5679 Boy C Gillespie Scottish Rifles)
[BWM]
[VM]
[SWB]

Charles Gillespie was born in Aldershot on 12th December 1882 and was educated at the Royal Military School. He attested for the 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles on 12th December 1896, aged 14. He later served as a Bandsman but deserted in September 1906 only rejoining his regiment on 27th June 1916. He was posted to the 3rd Battalion and served in France from February 1917 with the 9th Battalion, being promoted Serjeant on 17th March 1917 and awarded the Military Medal. Serjeant Gillespie was wounded, invalided home and subsequently discharged on 24th August 1917 being no longer fir for war service. Amazingly he re-enlisted in the Chinese Labour Corps on 31st July 1919, noting his occupation as Chauffeur, and served on until 1920.

Quite frankly David, notwithstanding any latter awards, certainly for the Anglo Boer War, I for one, would much rather have a Covenanter who had actually been up that wretched Kop in January 1900.

Pictures courtesy of DNW

ISO GVI, reverse engraved ‘Lt.-Colonel David Lindsay, M.C. 12th. June 1941.’;
MC GV, reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Capt. D. Lindsay.’;
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (7939 Cpl. D. Lindsay. Vol: Coy. Scot: Rifles.);
1914-15 Star (Capt. D. Lindsay. North’d. Fus.);
BWM and VM (Lt. Col. D. Lindsay.)

ISO LG 12 June 1941: David Lindsay, Esq., M.C., Inspector, First Class, Board of Customs and Excise.

MC LG 17 April 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He went forward through a heavy hostile barrage to the new front line and returned with most valuable information. Later, he took command of a company, and was largely responsible for saving a critical situation.’

David Lindsay was born in Glasgow on 19 October 1878 and in civilian life was employed as an Inland Revenue Officer. Following the outbreak of the Boer War he attested for the Scottish Rifles at Glasgow on 8 March 1900, was promoted Corporal on 8 March 1901, and served in South Africa with the 2nd Volunteer Service Company, attached 2nd Battalion, Scottish Rifles, from 15 March 1901 to 19 May 1902 (also entitled to the two date clasps to his QSA). He was discharged on 19 May 1902, after 2 years and 80 days’ service.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Lindsay was commissioned Lieutenant in the Northumberland Fusiliers on 17 December 1914, was promoted Captain on 1 April 1915, and served with the 16th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 22 November 1915. He was wounded on the night of 23 December by gun shot to the left thigh, whilst commanding ‘C’ Company, thus being the battalion’s first officer casualty, and was evacuated to England on 31 December 1915. After being discharged from hospital he returned to France on 10 November 1916, and served as a Brigade Intelligence Officer from 23 February to 9 September 1917, being promoted Major on 1 July 1917. He transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers on 27 February 1918, and served with both the 16th and 15th Battalions for the remainder of the War. For his services during the Great War with the Northumberland Fusiliers he was awarded the Military Cross, and was presented with his MC by HM the King at Buckingham Palace on 26 September 1918. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 May 1921, he transferred in this rank to the Reserve of Officers on 31 January 1922.

Returning to his civilian job with the Board of Customs and Excise, Lindsay was advanced Inspector, First Class, and was created a Companion of the Imperial Service Order in 1941, being invested with the ISO by HM the King at Buckingham Palace on 15 July 1941. He died in Deepdene, Surrey, on 1 October 1961.

I was expecting this group to go for more yesterday. It sold for a hammer price of £1,600. Totals (inc VAT on the commission for the UK only): £2,061. R41,700. Au$3,600. Can$3,400. US$2,600

The group to Lindsay is back up for sale in the March DNW auction.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 (Capt. H.H. Smith. Sco. Rif.)

From the 4th Battalion.