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Not mine but shared with permission of owner. A pair comprising a Queens South Africa medal to 3781 Trooper H.D.R. RUTLAND of the CAPE. M.R. and German South West Africa Commemorative Medal with clasp for Kalahari 1907. The latter being awarded to just over 100 members of the Cape forces for their help in the operation against Morenga which resulted in the Battle of Eenzaamheid on 20 September 1907 at which Morenga and the majority of his followers were killed. The German colonial authorities were so relieved that Morenga, who was a thorn in the side of the Imperial German colonial administration, was dead that they decided to award the South West Africa Commemorative Medal, with the bar 1 Kalahari 1907', to those members of the force that had defeated him en-bloc.
For full details and medal roll see “German Medals, British Soldiers and the Kalahari Desert. The South West Africa Commemorative Medal with the "Kalahari" Bars awarded to The Imperial British Forces” by Gordon McGregor.

Medals to Francis Augustus Heathfield Eliott 1867-1937.
Order of the Royal Crown of Prussia with Swords – 2nd Class
Distinguished Service Order
Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal and clasp Bechuanaland
Queen's and King's Medals with two clasps each - DoK
German South West Africa Commemorative Medal with clasp for 'Kalahari 1907
He would later get the WW1 trio.


Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book)
"He was born 3 July 1867, at Langley, Bucks, eldest son of Major George Augustus Eliott and his first wife, Helen Janet, daughter of W Jardine Gallon. He was educated at the Oxford Military College, Cowley, and joined the Bechuanaland Border Police in 1892. On the annexation of the then Crown Colony to the Cape Colony, he was appointed Sub-Inspector in the CMP. He served during the Bechuanaland Campaign of 1896-97 (Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal and clasp), and in the South African War of 1899-1902, during which he took part in the defence of Kimberley and in operations in the Orange Free State. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 8 May 1900, and 10 April 1901], and received the Queen's and King's Medals with two clasps each. He was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 9 November 1907]: "Francis Augustus Heathfield Eliott, Commanding North-West Border Riflemen, Cape Colony". The decoration was awarded for services in the Battle of Eenzaamheid, 20 September 1907. He was twice mentioned in Despatches by the High Commissioner for South Africa, for conduct on the German Frontier (South-West Africa) in 1907, when he was operating in conjunction with the Imperial German Troops against Morenga. Besides the DSO, he received the 2nd Class Order of the Royal Crown of Prussia with Swords, and the German South West Africa Commemorative Medal with clasp for 'Kalahari 1907'. He became Major in the Cape Colonial Forces, and District Inspector in the Cape Mounted Police. He served in the European War, 1914-18. He took part in the campaign in South-West Africa, under General Botha, as Lieutenant Colonel in command of the 3rd Regiment, South African Mounted Riflemen. He also served under General Smuts in East Africa, with the 6th Mounted Brigade, in command of the 4th South African Horse, and with the 1st Mounted Brigade, and was mentioned in Despatches twice; was subsequently in Flanders on the Staff of the 5th Army until invalided with malaria. His favourite recreations were shooting, fishing and tennis. Lieutenant Colonel Eliott married, in 1890, Evelyn Georgina, daughter of R W MacDermott, and they had two sons and three daughters."

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Transvaal (13598 Tpr: J. H. Richards, 73rd. Coy. 19th. Imp. Yeo:);
Shanghai Volunteer Corps Long Service Medal, silver, the reverse engraved ‘J. H. Richards. Active 1903-1907, 1911-1919.’.

J H Richards served with the 73rd (Paget’s Horse) Company, 19th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa during the Boer War, and subsequently with the Shanghai Volunteer Corps.

The pair sold for a hammer price of GBP 1,700. Totals: GBP 2,190. R 48,870. AUD 4,070. NZD 4,350. CAD 3,520. USD 2,570. EUR 2,440

CGMG in case of issue;
Baronet's badge, gold and enamel, (Loraine of Kirkharle 1664), with its case of issue;
QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut: P L. Loraine. Imp: Yeo:), dated clasps tailor's copies;
Jubilee 1935;
Coronation 1937;
Persia, Reza Shah, Coronation Medal 1926, bronze

GCMG London Gazette 11 May 1937.

Percy Lyham Loraine was born on 5 November 1880, the younger son of Rear Admiral Sir Lambton Loraine, 11th Baronet, who is best remembered for his involvement in the 'Virginius Affair' of 1873 and Frederica, daughter of Charles Acton Broke, co-heiress of the Brokes of Nacton. Educated at Eton and New College, Oxford, during which obtained a commission with the Imperial Yeomanry when the authorities were needing reinforcements for the Second Boer War.

Soldier - wounded

Posted for South Africa on 25 March 1901, he served with the 53rd (East Kent) Imperial Yeomanry and was promoted Lieutenant on 27 June 1901.

Riding in the rear-guard of a convoy on 30 August 1901, Loraine was wounded in a Boer ambush at the Eland's River bridge. The enemy attacked while he was crossing the bridge and he was caught in the opening volley, being shot through the right knee.

The wound healed in less than three months and he was able to resume his place in the unit. Loraine left South Africa on 21 April 1902 and arrived back in England on 9 May 1902, returning to Oxford to complete his studies.

Diplomat - Knighted

On completion of his studies, he joined the Diplomatic Corps in 1904, serving firstly in the Middle East at the British missions in Istanbul and Tehran, where he was Envoy. Then promoted to Second Secretary from 1909-16, during this time his brother died in a plane crash on 5 July 1912 on Salisbury Plain at the time he was unmarried and had no heirs. Loraine became First Secretary between 1916-20, and took part in the Paris Peace Conference at Versailles in 1919 before being sent as minister in Tehran and then Athens, and became Counsellor of the Embassy in 1920. As a result of the death of his brother, he succeeded the title of 12th Baronet when his father died in 1917. The title had been created on 26 September 1664 for Thomas Loraine, High Sheriff of Northumberland.

Loraine served at Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Persia between 1921-26, for which he was awarded a CMG, followed by the same appointment in Greece. He was awarded his KCMG London Gazette 3 June 1925 as his Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the Shah of Persia.

Appointed High Commissioner for Egypt and the Sudan in 1929, his policy of allowing King Faud I to contol the government led to his removal in 1933. He then becoming a Privy Councillor on 22 December 1933 and served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Turkey between 1933-39, during this tenure he was awarded his GCMG. as his Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Angora.

He became close to the Turkish President Mustafa Kemal Ataturk whilst serving in Ankara, which improved the relations between the two countries. While Ambassador, Loraine visited Ataturk on his deathbed and later gave a BBC broadcast paying tribute to Ataturk on the 10th anniversary of his death.

He had the same role in Italy between 1939-40 being the last British Ambassador to Italy before the start of the Second World War.

Loraine was handed the unenviable task of restraining Mussolini from joining Hitler's side, a task he managed with the help of Count Ciano until the fall of France.



On his return, Loraine became Chairman to the Home Office Advisory Committee (Italians) from 1940 and Chairman of the Anglo-Hellenic League from 1941. Sir Winston Churchill did not seek his advice on Middle Eastern matters during the war. He had the nickname of 'Pompous Percy' by his staff, so one assumes Churchill must have had the same opinion.

Retiring from his work in the Diplomatic Service in 1940, he took an interest in horse racing and thoroughbred breeding. His horse Darius was a star. Having had a successful two year-old year in 1953, the following year he won the 2000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes, finished second in the Eclipse Stakes and third in both The Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Loraine worked for the Jockey Club on the introduction to photo-finish cameras to racing.

He had married Louise Violet Beatrice in 1924, she was the daughter of Major-General Edward Montagu-Stuart-Wortley, brother of the 2nd Earl of Wharncliffe. Loraine lived at Styford Hall, Stocksfield-on-Tyne, and at Wilton Crescent, Belgravia and his friends included Gertrude Bell, fellow diplomat Sir Lancelot Oliphant and Sir Arnold Wilson. He died on 23 May 1961 at his home in London, thus with no issue from the marriage, the Baronetcy became extinct

Picture courtesy of Spink

King’s Police Medal, with gallantry riband, GV (Robert Bentley, Sergeant.), in its case of issue;
QSA (2) Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (3353. Pte. R. Bentley. 1/Rl. Drgns.)

KPM London Gazette 2 January 1911:

‘The King has been graciously pleased to award the King’s Police Medal to the following Officers of the City of London Police Force who took part in the attempted capture of armed burglars at Houndsditch on 16 December 1910.’

The above citation appeared for the awards of Sub-Inspector Bryant & Sergeant Woodhams. The further citation was offered for the posthumous awards of Bryant, Tucker & Choat:

'His Majesty has also graciously consented to the King's Police Medal being handed to the nearest relative of the following Officers who lost their lives on the occasion in question and who would have received the decoration had they survived.'

Police Gallantry by J. Peter Farmery states:

‘As a result of information received from a member of the public who heard suspicious noises coming from the rear of H. W. Harris, the jewellers, in Houndsditch, London, late at night on 16th December 1910, police were called from the nearby station. A number of officers under the charge of Sergeant Bentley went into Exchange Buildings, at the rear of Houndsditch. Sergeant Bentley posted the others to keep watch, whilst he went to the door of No. 11, Exchange Buildings, where a man answered the knock, but did not speak English. The door was closed in the officer’s face. Sergeant Bentley opened the door and went inside. Suddenly several shots were heard, and Sergeant Bentley fell out of the door mortally wounded. Sergeant Bryant, who was standing close behind, was also struck in the chest and arm, and fell seriously wounded. As the other officers rushed up, an automatic pistol was fired from the doorway, and Sergeant Tucker was hit just above the heart. He died instantly. Constable Woodhams, who was on the opposite side of the street, was also struck by flying bullets in both legs, his left femur being shattered to such a degree that he was subsequently invalided out of the Force. Constable Choat, who had been posted to keep watch at the end of the street some thirty yards away, ran up on hearing the shooting, and grabbed one of the murderers, who was trying to make his escape. This man, named Gardstein, was the leader of the gang, and one of his compatriots, in trying to shoot Constable Choat, also shot Gardstein in the back. Constable Choat was shot eight times, and soon collapsed and died. Gardstein was later found in nearby Grove Street, having died from wounds. The search for the escaped murderers led to the infamous Sidney Street Siege, on 3 January 1911.’

Details of this famous event unsurprisingly survive in detail in the National Archives, accompanied by Winston Churchill’s covering letter to the King - Winston was then Home Secretary. The details of the award to Bryant:

‘Bryant also went to assist in the investigation of the noise and was a little distance behind Sergeant Bentley when the latter went to the door of No. 11 Exchange Buildings. On Bryant’s arrival at the door Bentley had stepped just inside and said “the man (whom Bryant had not seen) I have seen cannot speak English; he has gone to fetch somebody who can.” A few seconds elapsed when a man came from the back of the ground floor room and discharged a firearm four times. Bryant was struck in the chest and left arm, and fell heavily to the ground, and at the same time Bentley fell. Bryant says he scrambled to his feet, felt dazed, and his left arm was useless, and on recovering himself he saw Bentley, Choat and P.C. Woodhams lying on the ground, and their assailants had escaped. Bryant was removed to hospital and he is progressing satisfactorily.’

As the subsequent investigation proceeded, it transpired that the dead burglar, George Gardstein, was a hard line anarchist, known in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Warsaw, Vienna and Paris, but in the name of Oloski Morountzeff. It was his accomplices, Fritz Svaars and Josef “Yoshka” Solokoff, both of whom were present at the murder of Bentley, Choat and Tucker, who brought about the famous Sidney Street Siege, having made their way to that address after the shooting. They were probably accompanied by a third party, Peter Piakoff (a.k.a. “Peter the Painter”). And the rest, as they say, is history, the whole meeting a violent end, but not before exchanging further shots with the police and attracting the keen attention of Winston Churchill, the Home Secretary, whose top-hatted figure memorably appeared for the cameras at the height of the siege.

Robert Bentley was born at Poplar in January 1873 and was a clerk by trade when he enlisted in the Royal Dragoons on 7 May 1891, standing at 5 foot, 9 inches and tipping the scales at 126lbs. He served in the unit until May 1898, when he was transferred to the Army Reserve and joined the City of London Police. Recalled to the Colours in October 1899, he served with the unit in South Africa from 31 October 1899-8 June 1900 (Queen's Medal & 2 clasps). Returned home, he was married on 16 December 1901 and was advanced Corporal on 19 May 1903.

Discharged on 3 May 1903, Bentley returned to the ranks of the City of London Police and became one of the youngest Officers to make the rank of Police Sergeant. Little more need be said of the events which unfolded but a local Folkestone newspaper gives more detail:

'The shock of horror throughout the land by the murder of the three police officers in Houndsditch was accentuated in Folkestone when it was announced that Sergeant Bentley was one of the victims. The deceased was well known locally, particularly in Foord.

Sergeant Bentley was at one time in the 1st Dragoons, being with that Regiment when it was stationed at Shorncliffe seven or eight years ago. He formed one of the escort that attended the German Emperor (Hon. Colonel of the 1st Royals) on the occasion of His Majesty’s visit of inspection at Shorncliffe in 1902.

The Sergeant married Miss Louisa Goddard, the second daughter of Mrs (Charlotte) Goddard, of Foord road, at St John’s Church, on 16th December 1901.

On receipt of the telegram, on Saturday last, Mrs Goddard at once proceeded to her grief stricken daughter in London, and still remains there.

By tragic coincidence Sergt. Bentley was murdered on the anniversary of his wedding day. More pathetic still is the fact that his bereaved wife gave birth to a baby boy on Wednesday last. We are pleased to state that both mother and son are doing well.

Whenever he was granted a few days leave the late Sergeant would run down to visit his wife’s relatives in their little cottage at Foord, and many there are in this quarter who will miss a presence that was always welcome. It goes without saying that the heart of the whole town goes out in sympathy to Mrs Bentley in the cruel bereavement which has suddenly fallen upon her family.

Serg. Bentley with Serg. Tucker and Constable Choate was buried with highest honours at Ilford Cemetery on Thursday. First a service was held at St Paul’s Cathedral, this being the first time in history that that sacred edifice has been used for a public service of mourning for the loss of public servants holding merely the rank of the civil Police. A representative of the King occupied His Majesty’s stall in the choir, and many dignitaries were present.

Mrs Bentley and family wish to convey to all friends in Folkestone and district who sent flowers in memory of the late Sergeant Bentley heartfelt thanks. They feel it impossible to separately acknowledge the many tokens of respect, but trust the senders will accept this acknowledgement.'

Pictures courtesy of Spink

GCB military;
GCVO nr 607;
QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State (Lieut. J. D. Kelly, R.N., H.M.S. Forte.);
1914-15 Star (Capt. J. D. Kelly. R.N.), officially re-impressed naming;
British War and Victory Medals with MID (Capt. J. D. Kelly. R.N.), BWM with officially re-impressed naming;
Jubilee 1935;
France, Legion of Honour, Officer's breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel;
Croix de Guerre, reverse dated '1914-1917', with Palme upon riband;
Italy, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, Commander's neck Badge, gold and enamel

GCB London Gazette 3 June 1935.

GCVO London Gazette 13 July 1932.

French Legion d’Honneur London Gazette 27 May 1919.

Italian Order of the Crown London Gazette 6 June 1916.

John Donald Kelly was born at Southsea on 13 July 1871, the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Holdsworth Kelly, Royal Marine Artillery, and his wife Elizabeth (née Collum), of Bellevue, County Fermanagh. He joined the Royal Navy in 1884, being promoted to Midshipman in 1886 and Sub-Lieutenant in 1891. Kelly failed to pass from College in November 1891 and was sent to Hotspur on 12 December, to be denied Christmas leave in light of the impression that he had not applied himself sufficiently to his studies. He managed to pass out in February 1892, with a third-class certificate in Gunnery and a second-class in Torpedoes. He apparently left before being given permission, and he was docked three months' time for misconduct. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1893.

Serving for a period of six years on the Australia Station, the last three of which were spent aboard the flagship Royal Arthur. After qualifying as a Gunnery Officer he served in the cruiser Forte on the Cape Station (during the Boer War), being promoted to Commander in 1904. He served as Commander on the China station, and then at Home, being promoted again, this time to Captain in 1911. Serving for a year and a half as superintendent of physical training between 1913-14, before returning to sea service in command of the light cruiser Dublin in the Mediterranean, just prior to the outbreak of hostilities.

During the Great War he distinguished himself when the Dublin, along with her sister ship, Gloucester (under the command of his younger brother Captain (Sir) William Archibald Howard Kelly), were the only ships able to keep touch with the German battle-cruiser Goeben when she had successfully avoided the British battle-cruiser squadron in 1914. He was also in command of Dublin when she was attacked by an enemy submarine and hit by a torpedo off the Albanian coast on 9 June 1915, being attacked again on 14 and 15 December 1915, for which he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy for his ‘professional ability of the highest quality’ shown during his handling of the ship under attack.

Kelly was second in command of the Dardanelles Force at Gallipoli and supported the Allied Landing. He commanded the cruisers Devonshire and Weymouth, and battle-cruiser Princess Royal between 1917 and the end of the Great War.

In 1919 Kelly was appointed Director of Operations Division of the Naval Staff at the Admiralty, being promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1921. He was appointed A.D.C. to the King in 1921 and between 1922-23 he served as Rear-Admiral with the Home Fleet. A detachment of which under his command spent several months in the Dardanelles and the Bosphoros during a period of disturbances in Turkey in the Chanak Crisis of 1922.

Appointed Fourth Sea Lord in 1924, he was promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1926. Returning again to sea service in 1927, Kelly was appointed to command the First Battle Squadron and as Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet for a period of two years. He was promoted full Admiral in 1930, and had sent a letter to the Admiralty requesting that he retire in order to allow for the promotion of younger officers. However before this was put into effect, the political situation of 1931 required a reduction in naval pay, amongst other issues to affect the crews. Such was the displeasure created amongst the men of the Royal Navy, that this decision brought about the ‘Invergordon Mutiny’. Crews from a number of ships chose not to accept further orders, starting a ‘mutiny’ (sometimes considered a strike or period of industrial action), but without violence or major disturbance. Despite these considerations, news of the Invergordon Mutiny created chaos on the London Stock Exchange and a run on the Pound which resulted in the U.K. coming off the gold standard.

Kelly was chosen specifically, in all likelihood by King George V himself, to take over command of the Atlantic Fleet with the task of restoring order and discipline amongst the men. He was well-known and liked amongst the men - having had been boxing champion of the Fleet, and had gained respect for his sensible approach and true naval bearing. A stoker from York later remarked of Kelly, after a speech given to the crew:

'Now that man – the men in the Navy trusted him. He didn’t come up the gangway and be piped aboard the same as most Admirals, he came over the boom (i.e. as a sailor would come aboard).'

In a letter home written by Hubert Fox on 13 October 1931, a Midshipman aboard Warspite, described Kelly’s speech:

‘He told us that he had been talking for two hours to the King before taking up his command. Among other things, the King showed him that his mind was still completely naval and that he understood sailors as well as anyone. He was heartbroken over the recent unrest. Admiral Kelly then explained that the sailors were absolutely loyal to H.M.’s person and crown, as well as to their officers, but he honestly thought that they had been tried too hard – a sailor, he said, did not mind any hardship, death, or anything else, but if his wife and family were tampered with he put his foot down.’ (The Invergordon Mutiny, by Ereira, refers, pg. 168).

Kelly was able to restore order quickly by virtue of his ‘reputation on the lower deck for good sense, plain speaking (and) absolute honesty’. In recognition of this success he was appointed G.C.V.O. in 1932. Kelly was then appointed first and principal Naval A.D.C. to the King between 1934-36, and Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth. Holding that command for two and a half years when at sixty-five years old (the compulsory age for retirement), he was specially promoted to Admiral of the Fleet, flying his Union Flag in that rank for one day before retiring to Greenham Hall, Taunton, Somerset. Kelly died just a few months later on 4 November, 1936, at London, after which he was buried at sea with full Naval honours. In his personal life, Kelly was married in 1915 to Mary, daughter of Thomas Hussey Kelly, of Glenyarrah, Sydney, Australia, with whom he had one issue of one daughter.

British Pathe have a video recording of his impressive funeral, when his coffin was processed from The Admiralty to St Martin's-in-the-Fields, before his burial at sea with a full escort of destroyers. www.britishpathe.com/asset/43182/