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The DSO group to Captain Crane sold yesterday for a hammer price of GBP 1,900. Totals: GBP 2,447. R 53,520. AUD 4,510. NZD 4,880. CAD 3,990. USD 2,890. EUR 2,700.

Picture courtesy of Spink

DSO VR;
Egypt (1) Tel-El-Kebir (Lieut: F. B. Lecky. 1/2. Bde. R.A.), edge bruising;
QSA (6) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (Major F. B. Lecky, D.S.O., T. By, R.H.A.);
KSA (2) erased;
Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed as issued

DSO London Gazette 19 April 1901.

MID London Gazette 16 April 1901.

Frederic Beauchamp Lecky was born in October 1858, and was the son of J. F. Lecky, DL, of Ballykealey, Tullow, County Carlow. Frederic Lecky was educated at Uppingham and R.M.A. Woolwich, and was commissioned Lieutenant into the Royal Artillery in January 1878. He served with the Royal Artillery during the Egypt campaign of 1882, and advanced to Captain in March 1886, and to Major in April 1896.

Lecky served during the Second Boer War, and was present at the Relief of Kimberley; the operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg, 17 - 26 February; actions at Poplar Grove, Dreifontein, Vet River, 5 - 6 June May and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill, 11 - 12 June; operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900, including actions at Reitvlei and Belfast, 26 - 27 August; operations in the Transvaal, 30 November 1900 - January 1902, and March - 31 May 1902; operations in Orange River Colony, January - March 1902.

Lecky commanded ‘O’ and ‘T’ Batteries, Royal Horse Artillery, from January 1902. They were employed as part of the Royal Artillery Mounted Rifles in Colonel J. L. Keir’s column. This was the first time that the Royal Artillery Mounted Rifles took to the field. Lecky distinguished himself during the pursuit of De La Rey, in particular during the action at Boschbult in the Western Transvaal, 31 March 1902:

‘Damant had been checked on the farm lands of Boschbult, at the western limit of a wide clearing in the sea of bush. As it was essential that the whole column gain the free field of fire presented by this clearing, Keir, with the R.H.A. Mounted Rifles and Kitchener’s Horse, was sent to hold the Boers on the rising ground on the left; while Damant, with Damant’s Horse, the Yeomanry and the 28th M.I., protected the front and right. In this way the ground was easily maintained until the arrival, about midday, of the Canadians and transport....

Half-a-mile further to the east, another farmhouse, also close to the river, was occupied as a detached post by Major Lecky and 200 of the R.H.A. Mounted Rifles and a pom-pom. In the meantime, the outer screen was maintained, but in a much modified form. Keir, with Kitchener’s Horse and the rest of the R.H.A. Mounted Rifles, was drawn in close to the camp, which he protected on the south.....

Tools being few and the ground hard, the work of intrenchment went on slowly, and at 1.20pm, before it was nearly complete, the Boers made their first serious attack. Bringing up four guns and a pom-pom to the scrub-covered ground to the south-west, they began to shell the camp, with the result that some of the mule-drivers inspanned their wagons and began a stampede. The panic was quelled and the wagons rounded up, but not before a few vehicles had run amuck through the 28th M.I., causing the men of one company to lose their heads. Before this company could be rallied it was isolated by a Boer charge. Seizing what appeared to be a favourable moment, Liebenberg, with several hundred men, galloped out from behind the Boer guns, swept across the front of the laager, and charged down in the direction of farm C. Recoiling under the fire of Keir’s troops extended on the south bank, they swerved away wide to the east; then, wheeling to their left, bore down upon the farm from the north-east. It was a spirited charge on the best Boer model; but Liebenberg, it would appear, had not counted on finding the farm occupied and intrenched. Lecky’s R.H.A. Mounted Rifles, ensconced in the farm buildings and enclosure, brought the charge to an abrupt end by a steady volume of fire reserved till the enemy was at point-blank range. Swerving once again, the Boers cut off and drove from the field the broken company of M.I. to which we referred above, and disappeared in the bush to the north of the camp.’ (The Times History of the War in South Africa 1899-1902, refers)

Lecky was presented with his D.S.O. by the Duke of Cornwall and York, 17 August 1901. He advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in August 1903; was given the Brevet of Colonel in August 1908, and retired Colonel 17 August 1908.

He died in November 1928.

Picture courtesy of the London Medal Company

DSO VRI;
OBE, 1st type, military, HM 1918;
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901; (CAPT. R. BRITTAN, DERBY: REGT.)

Together with the recipient's miniature medals and tunic ribbon.

Reginald Brittan was born on 26th January 1865 in Clifton, Somerset, the son of the Reverend C. Britten of Darley Abbey, Derbyshire, and of Julia Britten, daughter of Harley P. Gisborne of Allestree, Derbyshire, and was educated at Clifton School followed by Malvern College, before being commissioned into the British Army via Sandhurst as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Derbyshire Regiment - the Sherwood Foresters on 29th August 1885.

Promoted to Captain on 21st July 1892, he became Adjutant of the 4th Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment - the Sherwood Foresters on 1st March 1895, and as such then saw service as the Adjutant of the 4th Battalion out in South Africa during the Boer War when on operations there from 11th January 1900 through to 10th May 1901, and taking part in the operations in the Transvaal to the west of Pretoria between July and 29th November 1900, and including the action at Wittebergen, and then in the operations in the Cape Colony between 30th November 1900 and April 1901. During this period they formed part of the 21st Infantry brigade under General Bruce Hamilton.

For his gallant and distinguished services during the Boer War, he was awarded a Mention in Despatches in the London Gazette for 10th September 1901, and appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in the London Gazette for 27th September 1901, he being one of three officers of the 4th Battalion to be gazetted with this award on this occasion, with a further three men being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The insignia being presented to him by His Majesty King Edward VII during an investiture held on 29th October 1901. He then retired on 21st June 1902 in order to join the Militia.

Appointed a Major in the Sherwood Foresters Militia, Brittan went on to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given command of the 4th Battalion, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment - the Sherwood Foresters in 1908, it having been retitled as such in 1902. He was promoted to Honorary Colonel on 31st December 1908, and resigned his commission on 1st January 1909, being granted permission to retain his rank, and wear the prescribed uniform. As of 1911 he was living in Portbury, Somerset.

With the outbreak of the Great War, Britten was recalled to service as a Lieutenant Colonel and Honorary Colonel, and found himself posted to assume command of the 14th Reserve Battalion, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment - the Sherwood Foresters, a part of the 91st Brigade in the 30th Division, and based at Lichfield in Staffordshire. He had command from 7th November 1914 through to October 1916 when it converted into 13th Training Reserve Battalion of 3rd Reserve Brigade at Brocton, being also known as the 13th (Young Soldier) Battalion, which he then continued to command, and was with it when it was retitled as the 53rd (Young Soldier) Battalion in October 1917. A basic recruit training unit based at Rugeley, it was part of 1st Reserve Brigade. It moved around October 1918 to Clipstone. He continued as such through to the end of war when he gave up command and was demobilised on 14th March 1919.

For his distinguished war services and his command of his unit, he was appointed an Officer of the Military Division of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the King’s Birthday Honours as published in the London Gazette for 3rd June 1919. As of 1939 he was living in Failand near to Portbury, Somerset, having devoted himself to the Boy Scout movement in his local area. Brittan died in Failand on 22nd September 1949.

The group to Major Lecky sold for a hammer price of GBP 2,500. Total GBP 3,100. R 71,640. AUD 5,790. NZD 6,220. CAD 5,100. USD 3,800. EUR 3,520

An amazingly coincidental opportunity for an instant reunite. The KSA for Lt Col F B Lecky is in the next Noonan's sale


Picture courtesy of Noonan's

KSA (2) (Lt. Col. F. B. Lecky. D.S.O. R.H.A.)

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

DSO VR;
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lt. Col. F. R. Twemlow, D.S.O., N. Staff: R.) engraved naming;
KSA (2) (Lt. Col. F. R. Twemlow. D.S.O. N. Staff. R.) engraved naming

Spink Numismatic Circular, January 1983.

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

Francis Randle Twemlow was was born at Smallwood, Cheshire, on 20 December 1852, the son of the Reverend Francis Cradock Twemlow of Peatswood, Staffordshire, and was educated at Winchester and Christ Church, Oxford. Joining the Militia on 8 August 1874, he served in South Africa during the Boer War from March 1900 to May 1902 - including as Commandant, Fraserburg District, from December 1900 to August 1901, and as Officer Commanding, 4th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, from August 1901 to February 1902 (in the absence of Colonel Mirehouse, C.M.G., on sick leave). For his services in South Africa he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901), and was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. Twemlow was invested with his insignia by H.M. the King on 24 October 1902.

Twemlow commanded the 4th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, from 13 December 1905 to 29 August 1908 and was promoted Honorary Colonel on 14 December 1906. Following the outbreak of the Great War he was commissioned to raise a new Territorial Battalion (3/6th North Staffordshire Regiment) on 4 April 1915, and was gazetted to the Territorial Force Reserve on 14 December 1915.

Sold with two original letters sent to the recipient from Field Marshal Lord Roberts, V.C., K.G. &c..

The first hand written, dated Sefton House, Sefton Park, Liverpool, 30 January 1906, and reading:
‘Dear Colonel Twemlow,
I will, with pleasure, present you at the Levée on the 20th instant.
Believe me, yours very truly,
Roberts’
With original envelope addressed to ‘Colonel Twemlow, D.S.O., Peatswood, Market Drayton’

The second typed, dated Englemere, Ascot, Berkshire, 5 October 1914, and reading:
‘Dear Colonel Twemlow,
Please accept my best thanks for your handsome gift for the use of the Cavalry Reserve Regiments.
I hope you may feel rewarded for your generosity by the knowledge that you are facilitating the training of the reinforcements which are needed to support our gallant soldiers at the seat of war.
I am, yours very truly,
Roberts, F.M.’