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Adrian,

That's a fantastic achievement. The naming on the QSA is wonderful.

picture courtesy of Spink

DSO VR;
OBE (MIlitary 1st Type, HM 1919);
QSA (3) CC OFS Joh (Major J. C. Burnett, D.S.O., R.E.);
KSA (2) (Capt: J. C. Burnett R.G.A.);
BWM (Major J. C. Burnett.),

DSO London Gazette 27 September 1901. OBE London Gazette 3 June 1919.

John Chaplyn Burnett was born at Alton, Hampshire in December 1863 and educated at Epsom College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. Commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1884, he was serving as a Captain at the outbreak of the Boer War. Serving initially in the Pom-Pom section, he would later be posted as a Staff Officer at the Dynamite Factory at Middlefontein. Having seen action in the Transvaal, May-June 1900, and east of Pretoria, July-November 1900. He finished the war on the Zululand frontier. The Grantham Journal in an obituary notice gives further detail on one enagement of particular note:

'At Witport, in 1900, he was in command of the Eastern Hills, with Major Munn in command of the Western. The Boers started shelling early morning and a message had to be dispatched calling for help, which was not sent untill dusk. Captain Burnett kept off the Boers all day, although the position on the Eastern Hills was constantly assailed. With a Vickers Maxim the foe was kept at bay, and when the gun could no longer fire, the locks were removed to a place of safety. The gun and carriage bore the marks of 14 bullets at the conclusion of the action.'

Besides the award of his D.S.O., which was presented by the King at Buckingham Palace on 18 December 1902, Burnett was advanced Major, 1 October 1902 and mentioned in the despatches (London Gazette, 10 September 1901, refers).

Having retired in 1909, he was residing in Khartoum, Sudan at the outbreak of the Great War and was re-engaged, '...where he undertook the training of the Camel Corps.'

Invalided home later that year, he served in the Ministry of Munitions as Safety Service Officer based at Leeds. In this position he '...was awarded the O.B.E., was was whilst engaged on this work that on one occasion he missed death through explosion by a few seconds.' (Sole entitlement to the B.W.M. confirmed)

Retired for a second time, Burnett relocated to Barkston, Lincolnshire and became a published mathmetician - indeed 13 Volumes of his work are in the library of University College, London (MS ADD 108, refers). Appointed to the Command of the Barkston Home Guard at the outbreak of the Second World War, he died in the summer of 1943.

The DSO group to Meiklejohn of the Devons from a year ago has reappeared.

DNW price inc commission £7,500 in May 2018. London Medal Company price today £9,500.

I was researching Major Tylden-Patterson of the EKR yesterday. His lovely trio was cold by DNW back in 1999 for £2,000.

DSO VR;
SAGS (1) 1879 (2. Lieut. A. H. T. Patterson, 2/3rd Foot);
QSA (3) CC OFS 01 (Major A. H. Tylden-Pattenson, E. Kent Rgt.)



DSO London Gazette 27 September 1901 ‘Major, 3rd Battn. East Kent regiment. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.’ The insignia were presented by the King on 29 October 1901.

Arthur Henry Tylden-Pattenson was born on 30 September 1856, second son of Captain Tylden-Pattenson, J.P., D.L., of Dashmonden and Ibornden, Kent. He was privately educated and at Brasenose College, Oxford, and entered the Army on 14 September 1878. He served in the Zulu War of 1879, arriving in Natal in February 1879, whereupon he marched to the Lower Tugela with the 60th Rifles, joined the detachment at Fort Tenedos, and, taking part in the advance of the Relief Column, he was present at the battle of Ginginhlovo (Medal with clasp).

He was promoted to Captain in 1886 and retired on 3 November 1897.

He served in the South African War 1900-01, as Major in the 3rd battalion, The Buffs, including operations in Orange River Colony, 30 November 1900, to March 1901; and during operations in Cape Colony during December 1900. He was mentioned in despatches London Gazette 10 September 1901, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.

He became Major, Reserve of Officers, on 18 January 1902. Major Tylden-Pattenson died on 24 January 1938, at Telham Place, Battle.

Picture courtesy of Spink, July 2004

DSO VR and second award bar
QSA (4) CC OFS Tr SA01 Capt. J.H. Prior D.S.O. R.E. (Mil))
1914-15 Star (Major);
BWM & VM with MID (Lt. Col.);
Defence Medal;
France, Legion of Honour, Knight's breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, minor enamel damage, otherwise the group good very fine, mounted as worn

Related group of seven miniature awards including gold DSO.

- Commission of Appointment as Captain, Royal Engineers, to Special Reserve of Officers, 14.7.1908; M.I.D. certificates (3); D.S.O. Warrant; Officer's Certificate of Musketry, named and dated 6.10.1896; War Department Pass, 24.2.1942
- Envelope dated 1900, addressed to Lieutenant Prior at Plymouth, forwarded to Pretoria, showing U.S. Consulate Arms hand stamp and British and Boer Censor Cachets
- Large pencil and pastel framed full-length caricature portrait of Prior, by 'PIP', 1.6.1905, 72cm. x 55cm. (framed by Harris & Sons, Plymouth)
- Portrait photograph of recipient; copy of Colonel G.M. Bullock's letter concerning the action at Honingspruit, and another concerning the presentation of the Legion of Honour to Prior
- Royal Engineers Badges (2), pin missing on Cap Badge; A frieze of ' 'A' Field Company on the March', Christmas, 1917, 152.5cm in length; personal scrap book; a copy of the 'Malton Parish Magazine', dated August 1918, mentioning Prior's second D.S.O.;
- Free Mason Investiture document, contemporary
- Newspaper cuttings etc.

DSO London Gazette 27.9.1901 John Harvey Prior, Lieut., Plymouth Division, Royal Engineers, Submarine Miners (Militia) 'In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.'

DSO Second Award Bar London Gazette 16.9.1918 John Harvey Prior, D.S.O. Major, Royal Engineers, Special Reserve 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action, when he volunteered to attach himself and his company to a battalion which was threatened by an outflanking movement. By his personal courage and excellent handling of his company he was successful in holding the enemy and in assisting the battalion to withdraw at a very critical moment.'

Legion of Honour, 21.7.1918 MID London Gazette 7.11.1917 MID London Gazette 8.11.1918 MID London Gazette 16.3.1919

Lieutenant Colonel John Harvey Prior DSO, born 1871, Bridgwater, Somerset; 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion Welsh Regiment, 1890; Lieutenant, Plymouth Division, Royal Engineers, Submarine Miners (Militia), 1895; served with the Regiment in South Africa 1899-1901; present at operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900, including the actions at Colesburg 1.1.-12.2.1900; Station Staff Officer, 1901; Captain 1901; we have an insight into Prior's gallant conduct during his service in South Africa from an extract taken from Colonel G.M. Bullock's (Commanding Officer at Honingspruit and Serfontein) letter to his wife: 'I told you in my last that I had just sent out a party from here of 14 to try and catch 4 Boers - also one had gone out from Honingspruit. The party from Honingspruit was under Prior (whose wife you know). He with about half a dozen men pursued the 4 Boers, and opened fire on them - and they wounded or killed one - the rest fled, and Prior and his party pursued, when they came suddenly on 200 Boers! They at once pulled back, but very pluckily held their ground at a farm not far off, and the Boers did not come on. You can tell Mrs. Prior if you know her address, that her husband displayed great gallantry, and probably saved Honingspruit Station from being burnt and looted. I am very much annoyed with myself because in my first telegram I only had heard of the latter part of the fight and wired it in not mentioning Prior's name - and that account appeared in the intelligence Reports. I have specially, and personally reported to the G.O.C. about Prior -but I should have done so at first but did not know then what his share in the fight was.’

Served in the Great War, from 5.8.1914 as Major, Commanding 1/1 Devon Fortress Company Royal Engineers, Gibraltar; served in France and Belgium June 1915-November 1918; Officer Commanding 567 Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers, June -August 1915; Senior Works Officer, Dieppe, August 1915 -September 1916; Officer Commanding, 103 Field Company, Royal Engineers, July 1917 - 31.3.1918; Commanding Royal Engineers 24th Division (Lieutenant Colonel), 1.4.1918 - 23.3.1919; Commanding Royal Engineers VI Corps Troops, 24.3.1919 -24.3.1920; Acting Chief Engineer VI Corps September 1919 - April 1920; retired, Lieutenant Colonel 16.9.1920; Reserve of Officers, Royal Engineers, 13.4.1921; appointed Officer Commanding Devon (F), Royal Engineers 14.4.1921.

Sold for £3,800.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

[DSO VR]
[IGS 1895 (2)]
QSA (3) CC OFS Tr (Capt. A. St. J. Cooke. I.S.C.), engraved in sloping capitals
[KSA (2)]

Lieutenant-Colonel Aubrey St John Cooke DSO (1872-1935) was born on 5 August 1872, the second son of Professor Samuel Cooke. He passed out from Sandhurst on 18 May 1892 and received a commission into the Royal Sussex Regiment, afterwards joining the Indian Staff Corps as Lieutenant on 24 September 1894 (with the 6th Infantry, Hyderabad Contingent). He served on the North West Frontier between 1897-98 (medal with 2 clasps).

He served as a Special Service Officer in South Africa between 20 January and 6 February 1900, and as Staff Officer for Transport between 7 February and 15 October 1900. He was promoted to Captain on 10 July 1901, and served as DAAG from 24 February 1902. He was awarded a DSO (LG. 26 June 1901 – ‘In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa’) and a mention in despatches on 17 June 1902 (also entitled to the KSA).

He resigned his commission on 1 August 1904 but was recalled as Staff Captain on 5 August 1914 (Controller of Roads and Bridges, War Office). He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 11 April 1917, and resigned his commission for a second time on 20 November 1918. He was not awarded medals for the Great War, and died on 2 June 1935.