1900, Zeerust
DOXAT, ALEXIS C, Lieutenant, was born at Surbiton, Surrey, on 9 April, 1867, the son of Sir Edmund Doxat, of Wood Green Park, Hertfordshire, and was educated at Norwich Grammar School and Philberd's, Maidenhead. He was a Captain in the Dalston Militia under Colonel Somerset, CB, and Lieutenant Colonrt Bowles, MP, and passed the Auxiliary School of Instruction and the Hythe Musketry School. He became a member of the Stock Exchange, but left it on the outbreak of the Boer War to proceed to South Africa with Lord Scarbrough's detachment. He took part in Lord Methuen's advance from Boshof in May 1900, and in September joined General Douglas's Column as personal ADC, acting chiefly as reconnaissance officer. He won the Victoria Cross near Zeerust for the services described in the Gazette, and was decorated by King Edward VII at Marlborough House on 17 December 1901. His VC was gazetted 15 January 1901: "Alexis C Doxat, Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion The Imperial Yeomanry. Date of Act of Bravery: 20 October 1900. On the 20th October 1900, near Zeerust, Lieutenant Doxat proceeded with a party of mounted infantry to reconnoitre a position held by 100 Boers on a ridge of kopjes. When within 300 yards of the position the enemy opened a heavy fire on Lieutenant Doxat's party, which then retired, leaving one of their number who had lost his horse. Lieutenant Doxat, seeing the dangerous position in which the man was placed, galloped back under a very heavy fire, and brought him on his horse to a place of safety". Lieutenant Doxat married Mrs Hugh Mair. He died 29 November 1949 and was buried in Cambridge City Cemetery.
VC, reverse of suspension bar engraved (Lieut A C Doxat, 3rd Bn Imperial Yeomanry), reverse centre of the cross dated '20th Octr 1900', QSA (4) CC OFS Tr SA01 (Lt VC 11/Co 3/Imp Yeo), 1914-15 Star (Capt VC KRRC), BWM, VM (Capt VC), 1937 Coronation. Full size group Sotheby's 1971 and DNW May 92 £14,000. Miniatures only DNW Feb 99 £800 and again Jul 04 £580.
