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Medals to the 10th Hussars 4 years 5 months ago #66410

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QSA (2) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg (3513 Cpl. W. Burdett, 10th Hussars);
1914 Star, with contemporary slide clasp (3513 Sq. Q.M. Sjt. W. Burdett. 10/Hrs.);
British War and Victory Medals, with small M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut. W. Burdett.);
Delhi Durbar 1911 (S.Q.M.S. W. Burdett. X.R.H.);
Army LS&GC GV 1st issue (3513 Sq. Q.M. Sjt: W. Burdett. 10/Hrs.)

Together with companion set of 6 miniature medals.

William Burdett served in the ranks with the 10th Hussars in South Africa 1900. Present in the Relief of Kimberley, operations in the Orange Free State including operations at Paardeberg and action at Driefontein (Queen’s medal with 3 clasps [sic]). He served in France and Belgium from 6 October 1914, was commissioned on 19 December 1915, and was Adjutant of the Cavalry Corps Equitation School from 30 October 1917, until the end of the war. He was mentioned in despatches, London Gazette 5 July 1919.

Sold with a fine coloured portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform with pre-war ribbons, and Copy of Birth Certificate which records his marriage as Serjeant, 10th Royal Hussars, to Rose Bell at Warmington, Northants, on 22 October 1902.

He is additionally entitled to Driefontein

Dr David Biggins
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Medals to the 10th Hussars 4 years 3 months ago #67353

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QSA (6) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (3268 Pte. R. Bell, 10th Hussars);
1914 Star, with copy slide clasp (15837 Sjt. R. Bell. 10/Hrs:) unit number corrected;
British War and Victory Medals (15837 Sjt. R. Bell. 10-Hrs.) ‘Victory’ with official correction to unit;
Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed;
Army LS&GC Ed VII (3268 L. Sjt. R. Bell 10/Hrs.)

Richard Bell was born in Barnard Castle, Co. Durham. A labourer by occupation and a member of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Durham Light Infantry, he attested for the 10th Hussars on 5 January 1893. With the unit he served in South Africa, November 1899-February 1901; India, September 1906-November 1912 and South Africa, November 1912-January 1914. Awarded both the Delhi Durbar and Army L.S. & G.C. in 1911. Discharged at Gosport on 29 January 1914 at the expiration of the second period of engagement. With the start of the Great War he re-engaged with the 10th Hussars and entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 6 October 1914 (Clasp confirmed. Star returned for amendment in October 1919). On 12 November 1914 he was wounded during the first battle of Ypres. In March 1917, Bell along with many other members of the regiment were transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and later, in November 1918, to the Royal Air Force. Appointed Flight Sergeant in October 1917 and Acting Sergeant-Major in August 1918, his employment is shown as Regimental/R.A.F. police during the later years of his service. He was discharged on 30 April 1920. He was ‘Mentioned for Valuable Service’ in Air Ministry Orders of 22 January 1919 and earned a ‘Mark of Distinction’ in a despatch dated 18 April 1921.
Dr David Biggins
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Medals to the 10th Hussars 3 years 11 months ago #68722

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DSO GV;
QSA (3) 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein (Lieut. C. W. H. Crichton. 10/Hussars) top lugs filled with retaining rod;
1914 Star with copy clasp (Major C. W. H. Crichton. 10/Hrs.);
British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. C. W. H. Crichton.);
Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued.

DSO London Gazette 3 July 1915.

The original recommendation states: ‘Near Ypres on 13th May, 1915, showed conspicuous gallantry and ability in collecting and rallying men who were retiring under heavy shell fire through the 10th Hussars’ position. In our counter-attack he continued to direct operations, giving great encouragement to his men whilst he lay in the open under heavy shell fire with his leg shattered.’

MID London Gazette 1 January 1916

Charles William Henry Crichton was born in 1872. Claiming a notable aristocratic pedigree, he was the son of Colonel the Honourable Sir H. G. L. Crichton K.C.B., of Netley Castle and the grandson of both the Earl of Erne and the Earl of Northbrook. Educated at Radley College, he was commissioned, from the Militia, Second Lieutenant in the 10th (The Prince of Wales’s Own) Royal Hussars on 7 December 1895. Promoted Lieutenant on 25 June 1897, he served in South Africa during the Boer War, arriving at the Cape in December 1899. Present with General Broadwood’s Brigade at the Relief of Kimberley, operations at Paardeberg and the action at Driefontein. On 31 March, by now suffering from enteric fever, he was captured when the skeleton remnants of the 10th Hussars were ambushed by De Wet at Sannah’s Post on 31 March:

‘After a considerable detour the Household Cavalry discovered a place to cross and the Tenth found one on their left. They crossed and made for the ridge above with a view to a flanking movement, but owing to their greatly reduced strength were ordered to retire slowly on Springfontein, where they bivouacked. The Tenth’s casualties in the ambush were three killed, five wounded, two officers and twenty-six N.C.O.s and men missing, taken prisoner, the two officers and several others being patients in the ambulance wagon with enteric fever.’ (The 10th Hussars by Michael Brander refers)

Crichton was later released by the Boers due to his illness and returned to England on 27 July 1900. Promoted Captain, 16 November 1901 and Major 4 May 1907, Crichton then served with his regiment in India from 27 December 1903 until 6 November 1912 (Delhi Durbar medal 1911), also finding time, in 1908, to represent Great Britain at the Summer Olympic Games. An expert yachtsman he competed in the 6 metre class, with fellow crew members, Gilbert Laws and Thomas McMeekin, in the Gold Medal winning British boat, Dormy.

Posted to South Africa in November 1912, the regiment was then recalled from Potchefstroom to England at the outbreak of the Great War and joined the 6th Cavalry Brigade as part of the 3rd Cavalry Division in France on 8 October 1914. Crichton, in command of a squadron, was wounded, suffering a gun shot wound to his left arm, during the 1st Battle of Ypres in the desperate fighting around Hooge and East of Zillebeke on 30 October 1914. Here, the 7th Cavalry Brigade, supported by the 6th Cavalry Brigade, was forced to vacate the Zandvoorde Ridge, and after a gallant resistance, the Germans captured Hollebeke, Wytschaete and Messine, many casualties being incurred by both brigades. The Regimental War Diary for this date states:

‘Regiment marched out to act as reserve to infantry 3/4 mile east of Kleinzebe and Zanvoorde Road and took up post with Royals on right flank and Scots Guards on left. Regiment ordered to take up line of trenches. Relieved at dusk by XII Brigade. Captain Kincaid and 4 men killed. Major Crichton, Captain Fielden, Captain Stewart, Captain Baring and 15 men wounded.’

Major Crichton was wounded a second time, this time severely, at the 2nd Battle of Ypres, having assumed command of the regiment after Lieutenant-Colonel Shearman was killed. The 10th (P.W.O.) Royal Hussars and The Essex Yeomanry, during the European wars, 1914-18 by Lt-Col. F. H. D. C. Whitmore provides a narrative with specific reference to Crichton’s gallantry:

‘When the 1st and 2nd Life Guards were forced to retire from the front line trenches near Verlorenhoek, Lieut-Colonel E. R. A. Shearman, commanding 10th Royal Hussars, Major C. W. H. Crichton, and Capt. G. C. Stewart, Adjutant, worked hard to rally the men, and all the time shelling became more and more severe.
At 8am the order was given to leave all kit behind in the trenches; rifles, bandoliers, bayonets, and spades only to be carried. The task of the Regiment was to dig in on the right of the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays). Whilst concentrating behind Potijze Chateau, Capt. M. de Tuyll and several other ranks were killed by shell fire. Advancing alongside the road the leading Squadron “A” came under very heavy artillery and rifle fire. Half the squadron, under Lieut. R. Gordon Canning, went forward to fill in a gap between the Queen’s Bays and the Dragoon Guards, and later on supported the counter-attack of the 8th Cavalry Brigade by rifle fire. The remaining 2 1/2 squadrons and Machine Guns then attempted to dig themselves in alongside the road, and they remained there until 2pm. Lieutenant J. M. Wardell was here wounded. At 2pm our guns opened a heavy fire on the enemy’s trenches, and at 2.20pm the Essex Yeomanry and Royal Horse Guards advanced up to the right of the 10th Royal Hussars.
At this moment the 10th Royal Hussars, led by Lieut.-Colonel Shearman, jumped up out of the dugouts and charged the attacking forces of the enemy. The Germans retired instantly, vacating their trenches. Both Lieut-Colonel Shearman and Captain Stewart were at this moment killed, and Major Gibbs was wounded. Major Crichton was severely wounded whilst directing the fire on the retiring enemy. He showed great gallantry, continuing to direct operations whilst lying out in the open, until he handed over command to Major the Hon. C. B. O. Mitford.’

Crichton was left out in no-man’s land with a shattered right thigh for two nights and a day before he was eventually found, brought in, and promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 15 May 1915. For this action he was awarded the D.S.O. and mentioned in despatches.

Retiring with rank of Colonel in 1923, he died at his home in North Wales in 1958, never having fully recovered from his wounds. His obituarist in the The Royal X Hussars Gazette wrote of him:

‘Had he not been wounded he would have continued to command the regiment and probably become a Brigadier. The writer was in the squadron which he commanded when first joining the regiment: a kinder, more helpful and efficient commander it would be impossible to imagine, he would have been a splendid commanding officer.’
Dr David Biggins
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Medals to the 10th Hussars 3 years 4 months ago #73029

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From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

Ladybrand, 26 March 1900

Five men of the 10th Hussars were sent into Ladybrand to arrest the Landdrost (Magistrate) and his Clerk. While getting a pony for the clerk, they were surrounded by a large number of Boers and captured.
(Vide WO108/372: SA Surrenders).

KSA (2) (3229 Pte F. Simons, 10th Hussars)
E/k in area of number.

The SAFF Casualty Roll lists the 5 men under the correct date of 26 March, but the place is incorrectly given as Sanna’s Post. In addition, Simons’ regimental number is also incorrectly recorded as 3029. However, in the War Office’s lists of prisoners released at the Waterval Camp, north of Pretoria on 6 June 1900, his correct number of 3229 was stated.
Dr David Biggins

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Medals to the 10th Hussars 1 year 7 months ago #84915

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I am replying to the post concerning the medals of William Burdett. William was my Gt. Uncle. As a result of finding the post from a Google search, I got in touch with his granddaughter. She has told me that there is great interest in the history of these medals as there is no knowledge of them among his descendents. The post mentions them having been sold. So any more information that can be supplied, if necessary by private message, would be greatly appreciated.

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Medals to the 10th Hussars 1 year 6 months ago #85603

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QSA (6) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill and Witterbergen (3617 Cpl. R. Curtiss (sic), 10th Hussars); KSA (2) (3617 Serjt: R.H. Curtis 10th Hussars)

London Coins, September 2022. Hammer price £260.
Dr David Biggins

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