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Auction: 17001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 250

A rare Great War Palestine operations D.S.O. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. Haig, 2nd County of London (Westminster Dragoons) Yeomanry, a nephew of Field Marshal Earl Haig, who was among the first men to enter Jerusalem in December 1917 whilst serving as C.O. of 'A' Squadron

Prompted by the growing threat of war in the late 1930s, Haig made an unsuccessful application for a commission on the Emergency Reserve. As it transpired, the war finally caught up with him in October 1944, when a Mosquito aircraft - laden with 250 gallons of high octane aviation fuel - plunged into the house where he was a guest: for his subsequent gallantry in attempting to rescue those trapped upstairs, the 66-year-old Colonel was recommended for a posthumous Albert Medal

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the suspension bar neatly engraved, '1st Jan. 1918'; 1914-15 Star (Major J. Haig, 2/Co. of Lond. Y.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. J. Haig); Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., silver-gilt, silver, hallmarks for London 1921, mounted in a wooden display frame, with officer's bronze-gilt Westminster Dragoons Imperial Yeomanry cap badge, and laurel leaf representative of his posthumous Commendation, minor enamel damage to wreaths on the first, otherwise generally good very fine (7)

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

King's Commendation for Brave Conduct - a posthumous award in a joint citation - London Gazette 14 August 1945:

'At about 11 p.m. on Sunday, 22 October 1944, a Mosquito aeroplane which may already have been on fire crashed on Beech Hill House, East Lothian. The house was set on fire and virtually destroyed; and four of the residents, as well as the crew of the aircraft, lost their lives.

At the time of the crash, the owner of the house and his brother-in-law, Colonel John Haig, who was 66 years of age, were in the dining room on the ground floor. They heard and commented on the approach of the aircraft which they thought must be flying at an alarmingly low level. When the crash occurred Colonel Haig rushed upstairs, calling out the name of his sister, and his body was found the following morning on the first floor of the house.

The Police War Reserve Constable, James Chalmers, arrived at Beech Hill House shortly after the crash. The house was then blazing but Constable Chalmers twice ascended the burning staircase in an attempt to rescue Colonel Haig or any other persons trapped there. He had to fight smoke and flames all the way. He subsequently climbed a ladder to a bedroom window, smashed the glass and entered the room but found no one there. He suffered at least four days from the effects of these rescue attempts.

Colonel Haig, at the age of 66, showed a high degree of gallantry in rushing instantly to the upper floor of the house on which he knew the aeroplane had just crashed. He completely disregarded his own safety which, like other persons on the ground floor, he could have secured by escaping into the open air. Constable Chalmers likewise behaved with exemplary courage in making three attempts at the risk of his own life to rescue persons trapped in the burning house.'

John Haig was born on 1 February 1878, a nephew of Douglas Haig, the future Field Marshal Earl Haig, and was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge.

In May 1900, on applying for a commission in the Imperial Yeomanry, young John was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the Fife & Forfar Yeomanry, but he saw no action in the Boer War. Having then been advanced to Captain in May 1904, he exchanged to the 2nd County of London (Westminster Dragoons) Yeomanry.

Egypt, Salonika and Serbia 1914-16

Haig was promoted to Major in early 1914 and, on the outbreak of hostilities, was embarked for Egypt, where he took command of 'B' Squadron at the year's end.

He was subsequently present the Suez Canal operations of February-March 1915 but was not embarked with the regiment for Gallipoli, instead finding himself appointed 2nd-in-command of the 3rd Composite Yeomanry Regiment. It was in this latter capacity - and on occasion as C.O. - that he served in 'A' Squadron in operations in Salonika and Serbia from September 1915 until September 1916.

Having then participated in operations against Sanussi tribesmen, as part of the Western Desert Force back in Egypt, Haig and 'A' Squadron crossed the Suez in January 1917.

Palestine - Gaza and beyond - D.S.O.

Shortly afterwards, the Westminster Dragoons were selected as General Chetwode's corps cavalry, as a consequence of which Haig's 'A' Squadron was recalled from Wadi Ghuzzi in readiness for the second battle of Gaza in mid-April 1917. According to the regimental history- The 2nd County of London (Westminster Dragoons) Yeomanry- The First Twenty Years - it was for his 'outstanding work with divisional cavalry in the Gaza area' that Haig was specifically awarded his D.S.O. The same source states:

'In bivouac at Wadi Sheria, 'A' was responsible for patrolling the 74th Divisional front. This work, now outmoded by aeroplane and armoured car, often was unexciting but occasionally something of a thrill where the country presented everything to the enemy. During the five months prior to rejoining the regiment, on its being appointed corps cavalry to General Sir Philip Chetwode's XX Corps, several horses were lost or wounded, but of far greater consequence was the loss of very good men … '

The same source continues:

'This question of patrols in no-man's-land in that type of country - where nearly everything could be, and was, well observed from the front line outposts - was considered to be rather a useless risking of good material in men and horses, but being 'in the book' as a routine whatever the conditions. John Haig would be the last to suggest a change for fear of being misunderstood. The worthwhile occasions were those at squadron strength as protection to the senior commanders reconnoitring their operational ground; not the least interesting being those covering the Anzacs who wanted to go just that much further … '

On 2 June 1917, Haig was ordered to take 'A' Squadron on a wide sweep south-east of Gaza, running close to the Gaza-Beersheba road in order to mop up danger points known to patrols. With 40-all ranks and a Lewis gun section in support, the Squadron duly moved out under cover of darkness. It swept into the wadis and over the ridges at daybreak but the usual enemy strongpoints appeared to be deserted. Nonetheless, the enemy's artillery remained active and several horses were hit.

It was about this time that Haig was given operational control of all of the divisional cavalry squadrons in Chetwode's XX Corps, and it was in the same capacity that he oversaw 'A' and 'B' Squadrons in the final push on Jerusalem.

On 9 November 1917, at the head of 'A' Squadron, then acting as 53rd Division's advance guard, he was among the first to enter Jerusalem's city gates, amidst 'a demonstration of welcome such as never could have a parallel … it was an experience never to be forgotten.'

Haig remained employed in Palestine - and Egypt - until June 1918, when he was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel and ordered to France to take command of the newly formed 104th (Westminster Dragoon) Battalion, Machine Gun Corps. The unit - a component of 40th Division - was mechanized with Crossley box cars and other means of transport, and ended the war at Ypres. Haig was demobilised in March 1919.

Gallant end

Events surrounding Haig's death at Beech Hill House at Haddington in West Lothian, on 22 October 1944, are described in the citation for his posthumous Commendation for Brave Conduct: that award stemmed from a recommendation for a posthumous Albert Medal.

James Chalmers, the War Reserve Police Constable, was awarded the B.E.M.

Haig had every opportunity to leave the house, as indeed several other visitors and members of staff did so. Instead, he went to the rescue of those trapped upstairs, all of whom died: Haig's sister, Ruth, the wife of Colonel Cecil de Pree, the owner of the house; their grandson, David Pitcairn, aged 4 years, and his nursemaid, Daisy Spears.

The deceased Mosquito crew - Flying Officer Ian MacPherson and Warrant Officer Peter Wilkinson - were operating out of R.A.F. East Fortune; sold with extensive copied correspondence in respect of Haig's recommendation, including Scottish Home Office reports, the whole via T.N.A. sources.

Also sold with the recipient's original King's Commendation for Brave Conduct certificate, inscribed to 'Colonel John Haig, D.S.O., Haddington, East Lothian', and dated 14 August 1945; together with a copy of The 2nd County of London (Westminster Dragoons) Yeomanry - The First Twenty Years, by Major Edward Rowe, 1st edition, as published in 1962, in which the recipient is mentioned extensively.

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Sold for
£2,500

Sale 17001 Notices
The Lot as described is now accompanied by the original illuminated certificate for the King's Commendation, glazed and framed.