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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 290

A China 1900 C.B. group of three miniature dress medals worn by Colonel R. F. Gartside-Tipping, 1st Duke of York's Own Lancers (Skinner's Horse), who was Commandant of that famous unit 1894-1901

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion's breast Badge, gold and enamel, with integral riband buckle; Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp; China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin, mounted as worn, good very fine (3)

C.B. London Gazette 25 July 1901.

Robert Francis Gartside-Tipping was born on 17 August 1852 at Rossferry, County Fermanagh and was educated at Oswestry. He was commissioned into the 51st Light Infantry in 1873 and transferred to the Indian Army, joining the 2nd Bengal Lancers, but in 1879 joined Skinner's Horse. He saw active service in Afghanistan, when the unit were in the Kurum Valley (Medal without clasp) and thence on the Miranzai Expedition to the Northwest Frontier in 1891 (Medal & clasp) and the Isazai Expedition in 1892.

He was made Commandant of Skinner's Horse on 10 September 1894. The unit - with Gartside-Tipping at the head - served with distinction in China during the Boxer Rebellion. They took part in several brilliant cavlary charges and in one particular action cut up the Tartar cavalry and captured three enemy standards and a number of cannon (The Fists of Righteous Harmony, Keown-Boyd, refers) - the image of the Colonel with his men and the captured standards was featured in The Sphere in October 1900. They also shared an attack with some American cavalry, surely the first occasion in which the forces of India and the United States have served alongside. He held the calibre of the French column 'beneath contempt' but was positive in his reports of the Japanese who formed part of the international force who rounded upon Pekin. On 23 August, he was in action against a small force which resulted in his collapse under a tree. The treatment he was afforded sounds rather medieval, as recalled by David J. Silbey:

'...ether was injected, artificial respiration resorted to and a teacupful of brandy poured down.'

Above all, however, was his love of his loyal Indians, '...inferior in courage to no soldiers in the world.' Gartside-Tipping was made C.B. and 'mentioned' (London Gazette 14 May 1901, refers) for his part in the China operations and resigned his Commandantcy on 9 September 1901. Having retired, by 1911 he was living at Davenport Hall, Cheshire, with his wife, daughter and a staff of seven. He died at Kensington on 16 December 1926 as is buried at Brompton Cemetery.

An image of his grave was donated to the collection of the National Army Museum (1996-02-252) by Brian Russell. They also hold a collection of his letters, documents, cuttings and photographs, besides his Officers' lungi.

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Sold for
£250

Starting price
£100