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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 558

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

An important Great War Togoland 1914 operations C.M.G., Western Front C.B.E., D.S.O. group of eleven awarded to Colonel F. C. Bryant, Royal Artillery

A forthright soldier who was not afraid to speak his mind, he ended up in conflict with his seniors over the conduct of the Togoland operations in 1914: fortuitously for our interests in that far-off theatre of war, he won the war of words and went on to take the German surrender

He won further laurels for his distinguished command 76th Army Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, on the Western Front in 1915-18 and made a vital contribution to development of a vacuum fuze which improved the accuracy and reliability of our shells

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.), Companion's breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.), Military Division, Commander's 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. F. C. Bryant, R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. F. C. Bryant.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; France, Legion of Honour, Officer's breast badge, gold, silver-gilt and enamel, generally good very fine (11)


C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1915.

C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

D.S.O. London Gazette 4 June 1917.

Frederick Carkeet Bryant was born on 10 December 1879, son of the late T. H. Bryant of Leatherhead Court, part of the Woodlands Park Estate, Surrey, and a scion of Bryant & May, the match manufacturing company. Educated at Harrow and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, young Frederick was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery in December 1898.

His postings in the period leading up to the Great War included Malta, India and the U.K., but he witnessed no active service. In September 1910, as a Captain in the Royal Field Artillery, he was seconded for service under the Colonial Office and appointed O.C. Gold Coast Battery at Kumassi. But senior command was to follow for, with storm clouds looming over Europe in the summer of 1914, he was appointed Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Allied Forces in Togoland, with 1700 officers and men under his charge.

Togoland 1914

On the outbreak of hostilities, Bryant found himself telegraphing the Colonial Secretary's Office in Accra, Ghana, requesting ammunition and the means to take the fight to the Germans in Togoland, which had been a German protectorate since 1884 following the 'scramble for Africa.' Fully aware that 'not one person in every 100,000 of the inhabitants of the British Isles had ever heard of Togoland before the outbreak of war in August 1914,' he was keen to stress that Togoland held the second biggest wireless station in the world, communicating directly with Nauen, 30 miles from Berlin. According to Bryant:

'Now it mattered not, as far as the general purposes of the war were concerned whether the Germans held Togoland or Timbuctoo, but it mattered very materially whether the Germans could keep their wireless station at Kamina going. Every day, every hour, was of importance and for this reason and for this reason only; Kamina was the transmitting station from Berlin, direct to German East Africa: to Duala in the Cameroons; to Windhoeh in German South-West Africa; to any German ship in the South Atlantic. Directly if Kamina was down or captured, every African German colony was cut off, but more important still every German ship in the Atlantic was without orders or in formation.'

In response to his forthright telegram, Bryant received the following response from the Colonial Secretary's Office:

'Sir

I am directed by the Governor to enclose a copy of a telegram received from Lieutenant-Colonel Bryant with regard to certain specie sent to Secondee from Lome and to request that you will be so good as to point out to that officer the improper language in which it is couched.

I am also to ask you to inform Lieutenant-Colonel Bryant that it is subversive of all discipline for an officer in his position to address the Colonial Secretary of the Colony to which he belongs in such a manner and that an apology is necessary.

I am to add that the fact that the telegram was sent over the wire en clair at such a time renders Lieutenant-Colonel Bryant's indiscretion all the more lamentable and his action the more inexcusable.

W. H. Robertson, Acting Colonial Secretary'

Fortunately for the success of the expedition, those in charge of the administration realised that what had to be done, had to be done at great speed. According to Bryant:

'The situation was distinctly novel to all. There was a very, very secret book - just one copy - stowed away in a very, very secret safe of the O.C. Gold Coast Regiment at Kumassi. There were only two officers at the outbreak of war who had ever seen this book. I cannot remember its name right now, but it was compiled by the Imperial Defence Committee, and was full of information as to what steps the senior military commander in the Gold Coast should take, were the Gold Coast invaded by a foreign power. Unfortunately, no mention was made in this volume as to what steps should be taken should the Gold Coast Regiment wish to assume the offensive and invade foreign territory.'

Inspiration had therefore to come from elsewhere than the secret safe. Bryant's first move was to try bluff and to take advantage of the 'crop of rumours, native or otherwise, (that) came pouring in.' According to Bryant:

'To clear the situation up a little and to see in what sort of fettle the Germans in Togoland were, a telegram was sent to Captain Barker at Addah directing him to proceed to Lome, at the same time explaining that British and French forces (perhaps a trifle exaggerated) were converging on Togoland from north, south, east and west, and demanding the surrender of the Colony.'

The Germans were offered 24 hours to consider their response. Barker returned to Lome the next day at 6 p.m. to receive Acting Governor Major von Doernig's reply, only to find that the town had been evacuated and the District Commissioner was left to hand over all country as far north as a parallel drawn at 120 km. north of Lome. According to Bryant:

'In very truth the gallant Captain had carried out his mission beyond our wildest hopes.'

In this mastery of deception, British and Colonial forces had unexpectedly acquired a very considerable tract of enemy country, including a vital port (Lome) and three lines of railway. Bryant's next problem lay in how to occupy this territory; his invasion force numbered only 57 European officers, 535 African soldiers and some 200 carriers.

That same day, the French invaded Togoland from Dahomey, seizing Little Popo (Anecho), with a mere eight Frenchmen and 150 Senegalese tirailleurs. Bryant recognised immediately the importance of movement and immediately sent troops north along a narrow-guage railway and single road punched through the jungle. Contact was made with the Germans by a patrol of the Gold Coast Regiment and shots were fired - the first rifle shots fired by British soldiers at Germans on any front in the Great War. Bryant was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel and was put in charge of both the French and British troops in southern Togoland.

It was at this time that Bryant sent a scathing message to the German Acting Governor of Togoland, bringing to his attention the use of bullets which were contrary to the Geneva Convention:

'As all your soldiers are armed with this ammunition, I am compelled to the conclusion that it is by your orders and I must solemnly warn you that I will not be responsible for the safety of any prisoners whom I may capture, if you continue to abuse the Geneva Convention to which your country subscribes.'

Bryant continued this message by stating:

'I have also with regret to bring to your notice that a party of our troops, whom I sent out under a flag of truce in broad day-light, at the request of your own officers, to bring in two of your own wounded Europeans, was fired on by your troops. I again solemnly warn you that if you continue to wage war in this uncivilised manner, I shall be reluctantly compelled to treat you by the standard you have set up for yourself. Excuses will avail you nothing.

I am informed that there are six women in Karmina. As Englishmen do not fight women, I hereby give you permission to pass them out under flag of truce and I will be responsible that they are properly cared for and sent to Lome.'

On 22 August 1914, the same day that Corporal Thomas fired Britain's first shot in Europe, Bryant's Anglo-French force fought a confused battle with German police and volunteers entrenched on the north bank of the River Chra, near Nuatja. The fighting took place in dense bush and losses were high: Bryant's troops suffered 73 casualties, including 23 killed, a loss of 17% of the force engaged.

However, as dawn broke, it became clear that the Germans were gone. On the night of 24 August, the Germans blew up the wireless station at Kamina, and on the morning of the 25th, a German Officer was sent to British lines to ask for terms. Bryant informed him that only unconditional surrender would be acceptable. The German position was clearly untenable, so on the following day Major von Doring, the acting German Governor, surrendered unconditionally. Here ended the shortest and least bloody of the African campaigns. In recognition of his success, Bryant was appointed C.M.G. and given the substantive rank of Major. He was also appointed an Officer of the French Legion of Honour (London Gazette 4 July 1917, refers).

Bryant returned to England where, on leave, he married Miss Rosamund Hope.

Western Front

Next given command of 76th Army Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, he witnessed considerable action on the Western Front, not least in the epic actions on Vimy Ridge in April-May 1917. According to Brigadier-General E. W. B. Morrison of the Canadian Corps, 'Nothing could be more satisfactory than the manner in which your Brigade carried out their share of the work. Their services contributed materially to the success of the operations.'

He was awarded the D.S.O. and was twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 18 May and 14 December 1917, refer).

Active service command aside, Bryant attempted to put his talents to engineering and design in the latter stages of the war. Aware of the vast numbers of 'duds' fired by Allied artillery, he created a special brass-bodied vacuum fuze, bored out with a cylindrical hole containing a piston. The piston carried a detonator and had a flash hole bored throughout its vertical length and the setting ring which he created graduated in thousands, hundreds, fifties and twenty-five yards, thereby making Allied artillery more reliable and accurate.

He was awarded the C.B.E.

The latter years

Having retired to Oxfordshire, Bryant was recalled in the Second World War and served as Provost Marshal of Northern Command and as Provost Marshal of the Middle East Force, work that gained him another 'mention'. He died in August 1952.

Sold with a large quantity of original documentation, including:

(i)
A personal diary compiled by Bryant, detailing administrative life in Togoland from 4 December 1913 to 22 January 1914. Handwritten in pencil, approximately 19 pp.

(ii)
Bryant's hand-written account of his personal recollections of the events in Togoland in 1914 and his appreciation of its isolated location, the topography, the people and the pace of life; it details his objectives and the strategic importance of the wireless station at Kamina; together with related typescript, with annotation, 10pp.

(iii)
A confidential response from the Colonial Secretary's Office, Accra, dated 8 September 1914, rebuking Bryant for his inappropriate telegram sent on 28 August 1914, as quoted above; a further letter from Government House, Accra, dated 24 December 1914, rebuking Bryant for the 'style and manner' of his diary and letter which 'leave a good deal to be desired.'

(iv)
A copy of Bryant's telegram to the Acting Governor of Togoland, referring to the enemy's potential abuse of the Geneva Convention; together with copies of correspondence from von Doring, notably stating: 'I have the honour to assure your Honour herewith on my word of honour that nothing is known to me of this matter and that on the side of the Government, only bullets with complete jackets, or those of lead only, of the regulation pattern was issued.'

(v)
A transcript of a report, sent by Lieutenant-Colonel Rose to His Excellency the Governor, commending Bryant on 'the most efficient manner in which the operations have been carried out from the initial "Precautionary Stage" to the final successful issue.'

(vi)
A confidential and thorough report to Bryant from F. G. H. Migeod, Chief Transport Officer at Lome, detailing the logistics and expense of mobilising a considerable force, dated 13 September 1914. 32pp.

(vii)
Transcriptions of telegrams sent to the Governor of Dahomey and Governor of Accra from 26 August to 6 September 1914, relating to the surrender of hostile forces and supplies of ammunition, the whole contained within a German note book; the copies explain how prisoners are to be dealt with and the application of Martial Law; together with a second book containing telegram transcripts from 31 October 1914 to 3 December 1914, detailing the departure of Major von Doering and his wife from Togoland. 45pp.

(viii)
A copy of the terms of capitulation from Bryant to the Acting Governor of Togoland, dated at Amu River, 25 August 1914.

(ix)
Original telegrams (4) from the Secretary of State and G.O.C. Royal Artillery, congratulating Bryant on the outcome of events, and a onfidential letter from 10 Downing Street requesting Bryant to offer recommendations for decorations to French troops.

(x)
A publication entitled European War. Gold Coast. Correspondence Relating to the Military Operations in Togoland, as presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of His Majesty, April, 1915; this includes a large number of Bryant's reports.

(xi)
Leave certificate to 'Major F. C. Bryant, Gold Coast Regiment, the African Frontier Force', granting permission to proceed to England on 2 February 1915 for a vacation of 2 months and 30 days; document includes salary details of £600 p.a; corresponding medical certificate dated 17 October 1914, thios noting 'indifferent health' and an attack of malarial fever in January 1914 and bronchitis in September and October 1914.

(xii)
Original hand-written recommendation for Bryant's promotion, dated 28 October 1916: 'I should be glad to bring to the notice of the Corps Commander the work done by Lt. Col. Bryant, C.M.G., of the 76th Bde. R.F.A. - who has been attached to the Guard Division during the past three weeks. During this time, this Brigade has, under orders from Brig. Gen. Evans, Guards Division, occupied positions close to Guendessurt, in the trench S.E. of it, and in Les Boeufs. The Batteries have been in full view of the enemy. They have done good work. They have been well sited and well dug in.'

(xiii)
A typed report, dated 9 March 1917, entitled 'Colonel Bryant's Vacuum Fuze.' This details the mechanics of the new fuse and the advantages over fuses of the era; together with a large hand-drawn cross-sectional view of the design of his fuze, detailing it at four stages, two 'at rest,' one 'set for time' and the final design exhibits 'on firing.' It is scaled 2/1 and bears the D.W.G. number 1034.

(xiv)
A copy of a letter received by Bryant from E. W. B. Morrison, Brigadier-General and General Officer Commanding the Royal Artillery, commending him and his command for excellent service at Vimy Ridge, 16 May 1917.

(xv)
A photograph annotated to reverse: 'Photo of German map captured in the Hindenburg line opposite Groisches when supporting the Cambrai attack, Nov. 1917.'

(xvi)
A letter dated 26 October 1917, written to Mrs. Bryant regarding her husband being admitted to hospital: 'His voice is a little better than it was, but it is still very weak. His eyes are inflamed and watery - but he has no bandage on and he's without difficulty.'

(xvii)
Bryant's Identity Card (Military Police), British Troops Middle East, dated 5 March 1941, including photograph; and a letter from Major Kaye, dated 9 June 1944, offering a kind and congratulatory message on Bryant giving up his appointment as Provost Marshal.

(xviii)
A diary from 2 December 1945 to 31 May 1946 detailing a holiday to South Africa and the social scene: '12th January, Lunched at the Durban Club. Gough (Captain of the Clan MacLeod) also there: he was torpedoed five times during the war!!!'

(xix)
A copy of the record of service of Major (Temp. Lieutenant-Colonel) Frederick Carkeet Bryant, R.H.A. and R.F.A.

(xx)
A leather dispatch box with gilt inscription to lid, 'Major F. C. Bryant'.


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Estimate
£4,000 to £5,000