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Here is the second of the 8.


Picture courtesy of DNW

CSC Ed VII HM 1901;
QSA (5) Belm MR Paar Drie DH (Mid: T. F. J. L. Wardle, R:N: H.M.S. Doris)

The Conspicuous Service Cross was instituted in 1901 and converted to the Distinguished Service Cross in 1914. During its short life, only eight awards of the C.S.C. were made: five for South Africa, two for China 1900 and one for Somaliland in 1904. Wardle’s C.S.C. is only the second one known to have appeared at auction as part of a complete group [the group to Midshipman R. B. C. Hutchinson formed part of the R. C. Witte Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2012].

The QSA is one of only two issued to H.M.S. Doris with this combination of clasps.

CSC London Gazette 2 July 1901: ‘The King has been graciously pleased to confer the decoration of the Conspicuous Service Cross on the following Warrant Officers and Sub-ordinate Officers of the Royal Navy, in recognition of their services during the operations in South Africa ... Midshipman Thomas Frederick John Livesey Wardle (now Acting Sub-Lieutenant).’

Thomas Frederick John Livesey-Wardle was born at the Red House, Moor Monkton, Yorkshire, on 7 April 1881, the son of Captain Thomas Livesey-Wardle and his wife Catherine, and was educated at Little Wymondley Boarding School in Hertfordshire. He entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet in H.M.S. Britannia on 15 January 1895, and served as a Midshipman in H.M.S. St. George from September to December 1897, and then as a Midshipman in H.M.S. Doris from 29 December 1897. Following the outbreak of the Boer War he landed with the Naval Brigade under Lord Methuen, and distinguished himself at the Battle of Graspan, near Belmont, on 25 November 1899:

‘Midshipman Wardle also showed great gallantry, and remained with Major Plumbe and several dead and wounded men, and attended to them and dressed their wounds under a heavy fire.’ (London Gazette 30 March 1900).

At the Battle of Graspan the Naval Brigade carried out the only infantry attack of the Boer War made by men of the Royal Navy:

‘Captain R. C. Prothero, R.N., led the advance, and Major J. H. Plumbe, R.M.L.I., Captain A. E. Marchant, R.M.L.I., and Colour-Sergeant Dyson were in advance of the various marine companies.

Midshipman T. F. J. L. Wardle acted as A.D.C. to Major Plumbe and accompanied that officer. In some places the line was somewhat crowded and ‘bunched,’ but the average extension was about four paces... The officers lost heavily. Commander Ethelston, Major Plumbe and Captain Senior were shot dead, Captain Prothero, R.N., and Lieut. Jones were both severely wounded, and Mishipman Huddart was mortally wounded whilst struggling to advance after being twice hit.’

Following his service during the Boer War, Wardle returned to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and was promoted Acting Sub-Lieutenant. Whilst there he was informed of the award of his Conspicuous Service Cross, one of only 8 ever awarded. He was discharged from the service in December 1901 for failing all three attempts of his Navigation Part I examination, and the following month was commissioned Lieutenant in the 33rd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry (in South Africa) on 24 January 1902. He resigned his commission on 27 October 1902, and died of pneumonia at Johannesburg on 6 September 1903, whilst ‘attached South African Police’.

Bidding opened at £15,000 and the lot sold for a hammer price of £26,000 which equates to £32,240 or Aus $ 60,000, Can $ 56,000 and R 600,000.

We do not see the full size CSC very often and the miniature CSC less so.


Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Described as: Distinguished Service Order, V.R., gold and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Conspicuous Service Cross, E.VII.R.; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Relief of Mafeking, Transvaal, Orange River Colony, mounted for display and housed in a Garrard, London, leather case, generally very fine, the CSC scarce.

In the interests of transparency, I am the seller of this lot.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

CSC Ed VII, HM 1901;
QSA (8) Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Relief of Kimberley (Gunner E. E. Lowe: R.N. H.M.S. Monarch) small erasure or correction to colon after surname;
1914-15 Star (Lieut. E. E. Lowe, D.S.C., R.N.);
British War and Victory Medals, with MID (Lieut. E. E. Lowe. R.N.); \
Coronation 1911;
Royal Navy LS&GC VR, narrow suspension, impressed naming (E. E. Lowe, P.O. 1st Cl., H.M.S. Severn)

The Conspicuous Service Cross was instituted in 1901 and converted to the Distinguished Service Cross in 1914. During its short life, only eight awards of the CSC were made: five for South Africa, two for China 1900 and one for Somaliland in 1904; Noonan's say that Lowe’s CSC is only the third provenanced example to have appeared at auction.

Lowe was one of only two Royal Navy officers to receive the QSA medal with 8 clasps.

CSC London Gazette 2 July 1901.

Ernest Lowe was born in Lowestoft, Suffolk on 12 October 1866 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in January 1882.

His subsequent seagoing appointments included H.M.S. Canada on the North America and West Indies stations in the early 1880s, when he served as ‘hammock man’ to the Duke of York, afterwards King George V. When King Edward VII was pinning the C.S.C. to Lowe’s tunic at St. James’s Palace many years later, the Duke, who had a wonderful memory, turned to King Edward and said, “This is the fellow who used to throw me out of my hammock in the Canada.”

Lowe also attended extended courses at the shore establishments Excellent and Vernon, scoring highly for torpedo gunner, and was duly appointed to the warrant rank of Acting Gunner in April 1897. Then in May 1898, he joined the Monarch at Simonstown and he was likewise employed at the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa in October 1899. Among those selected for services ashore in the Naval Brigade, he was given charge of a 12-pounder and joined the Lord Methuen’s column for the relief of Kimberley. The Naval Warrant Officers Journal (January, 1951) takes up the story:

‘Mr. Lowe was present with this column at the battles of Belmont, Graspan (where he was mentioned in despatches), Modder River and Magersfontein. After a stay of some weeks at Modder River, the Brigade joined Lord Robert’s column and was present at the following operations: capture of Jacobsdal; engagements at Klip Drift; Paardeburg (capture of Cronje’s force); Osfontein; Driefontein; occupation (after several forced marches) of Bloemfontein. After staying a while at the capital of Orange River Colony, they advanced north and took part in the actions of Vet River, Land River, occupied Kroonstad, passage of Vaal River, action and capture of Johannesburg and Pretoria (mentioned in despatches), action at Diamond Hill, occupation of Middleburg and action at Belfast (Bergendale). After that the Brigade joined General Gordon’s column and was present at the Tafel Kop and occupation of Barberton, returning to Capetown on 12 October 1900.’

In fact, Lowe was mentioned in despatches on three occasions:

Lord Methuen’s despatch dated 25 November 1899, for the battle of Graspan: ‘Gunner Lowe and Midshipman W. W. Silem charged to the top of a hill, gallantly leading their men all the time under a heavy fire and are deserving of special mention.’

Captain Bearcroft’s despatch to Rear-Admiral Sir R. Harris, dated at Pretoria on 9 June 1900, reporting on the engagement of 4 June 1900: ‘Mr. Lowe, Gunner (T.) Monarch, for zeal and energy shown in keeping up an adequate supply of ammunition near the guns and looking after the safety of the remainder.’

And Captain Bearcroft’s despatch to Rear-Admiral Sir R. Harris, dated at Simonstown on 17 October 1900: ‘Mr. Lowe, Gunner (T.), this officer has performed the duty of Quartermaster to the Brigade while landed with ability and untiring zeal and energy.’

Graspan was surely the hottest of his engagements, for on what became a unique occasion, the Naval Brigade advanced as infantry, arriving opposite the Boer positions after a night march at 7 a.m. The Boers had burnt all the grass for 2,000 yards in front to allow them to pick up our khaki, in addition to marking ant hills to give the range. Lowe and his comrades duly set off under a blazing sun, advancing by 25-yard rushes, each half company passing the other half company. As the range closed to 600 or 700 yards, the Boer fire got much hotter, and the casualties began to mount. Captain Darwin, R.N., the Brigade’s senior officer, was severely wounded and Commander Ethelston killed. The Midshipman attached to Lowe’s company was also killed, as was Major Plumb of the Marines. Notwithstanding the loss of such senior officers, Lowe and his Tars charged to the top of the hill, under heavy fire, and managed to dislodge the enemy, who retreated to their horses on the other side. He then teamed up with Captain Marchment of the Marines and helped to drive off a small force of Boers on another hill nearby.

Lowe, who returned home in December 1900, was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross and also became one of just two Naval Officers to receive an 8-clasp Queen’s South Africa medal. He was also recommended for special advancement to Chief Gunner on attaining 12 years seniority, a promotion that was confirmed in April 1910. In the interim, in 1902, he added the Coronation Medal to his accolades, most likely for ceremonial duties in connection with the participating Naval Detachment.

Having then been advanced to Lieutenant in June 1912, Lowe was appointed to the command of Torpedo Boat 116 in December 1914, and he remained similarly employed for the duration of the Great War. He was mentioned in despatches ‘for good services in Destroyer Patrol Flotillas during the period ended 30 September 1916’ (London Gazette 23 May 1917, refers), an accolade that probably stemmed from his action in defending an important convoy from Canada in October 1915. Spotting an enemy submarine off Culver Cliff in the Isle of Wight, he steamed for her at full speed, firing on her and only missing ramming her by a few seconds.

Lowe was advanced to Lieutenant-Commander in June 1920 and finally hung up his sea boots in October 1921, after 39 years of continuous service. He retired to Grayshott in Surrey, near Hindhead, where he won the Village Billiards Championship in 1945, aged 79. He died in October 1954.

The group to Gunner Lowe sold for a hammer price of GBP 17,000. Total GBP 21,896. R 498,540. AUD 41,150. NZD 45,800. CAD 37,460. USD 27,160. EUR 25,080

This photograph of nine midshipmen landed from H.M.S. Terrible at Durban in early November 1899 shows Reginald B.C. Hutchinson, recipient of the C.S.G., sitting cross-legged at the front.

Hutchinson was A.D.C. to Captain Jones.

For further details, see: "Little Snotties in Khaki" (Midshipmen landed from H.M.S. Terrible)





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