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Auction: 23002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 45

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

The Queen's South Africa Medal and 14th (King’s) Hussars Regimental Merit Medal awarded to Captain & Riding-Master P. Thwaite, 14th (King's) Hussars, late Corporal, 10th (The Prince of Wales's Own) Royal Hussars, who was twice 'mentioned' for gallantry during the Boer War

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (2882 Cpl. P. Thwaite, 10th Hussars.); 14th (King’s) Hussars Merit Medal for Valuable Service to the Regiment, by Borton, obv. regimental emblem and battle honours, rev. inscribed, 'Captain & Riding Master Percy Thwaites. 14th (King's) Hussars', with its fitted case of issue, traces of lacquer, good very fine (2)

M.I.D. London Gazette 31 March 1900 & 4 September 1901. A local newspaper cutting from the time gives more detail:

'It will be of some interest to know that the man who galloped into Ladybrand over almost impassable ground to bring Colonel Pilcher and his party out, under a most terrible rifle fire was Sergeant Thwaite of the 10th Royal Hussars, who is a well-known horse-breaker, of Halifax, Bradford and Huddersfield. He had twice had a commission offered, but has refused.'

In a letter to his mother on 6 April 1900:

'I have been offered a commission but refused the Cavalry as I could not afford the expense, the Infantry because I do not care for foot soldiers and the Colonials because I should have to stop out here...

I ran the gauntlet at Ladybrand and saved all Colonel Pilcher's lot and got mentioned twice; for scouting and for the Pilcher affair. It looked like riding to death but I came out without a scratch.'

Lionel Percy Thwaite was born on 19 March 1869, the son of John Arthur Thwaite, woolstapler and mill owner of Yorkshire. When his father died in January 1887, he inherited a joint share - with his brother - in the Salterlea estate and mill. Young Thwaite was clearly not business-minded for he ran off and joined the ranks of the 10th Hussars in 1890, with whom he remained until purchasing his discharge in January 1897 in order to be married. After this he established himself as a horse-breaker and trainer in Halifax.

With the outbreak of the Great War, he was recalled to the Colours and served in South Africa with his old Regiment, displaying marked gallantry on numerous occasions (Queen's Medal & 7 clasps - the 'South Africa 1901' clasp being posted in August 1906).

Thwaite was commissioned Lieutenant (Riding-Master) in the 14th Hussars on 10 October 1903 and when the unit were sent to India in 1906, he was transferred to the Army Riding School at Netheravon. A skilled horseman, he was crushed and all but paralysed in a show-jumping accident in 1911, spending some three years recovering. Reduced to half-pay in July 1912, he was re-instated to full-pay in February 1917 and was able to serve as an Instructor of Equitation at the Cavalry School in this period. Clearly a man of great nerve, he continued to teach despite having no grip and having to be strapped onto his mount. Promoted Captain in July 1917, he retired in December 1919 and was awarded the 14th Hussars Merit Medal upon retirement, just the sixteenth award made. His health declined and the gallant Thwaite died on 12 January 1926.

Further details on the Merit Medal is taken from the website of the King's Royal Hussars:

'In 1909, Lt Col ED Browne-Synge-Hutchinson VC, Commanding 14th (King’s) Hussars, re-instituted The 14th King’s Hussars Regimental Medal, the old 14th Light Dragoons Regimental Medal having fallen into abeyance. In 1946, Lt Col HAR Tilney OBE instituted a separate award, a bar to the medal. At the time of the amalgamation 176 medals had been awarded, and 13 bars.

The medal is awarded to any officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier in the Regiment who has contributed to the military efficiency or military honour of the Regiment. It is laid down that length of service or attainment of a certain rank could not, in itself, be counted as a sufficient qualification. A bar to the medal is awarded to those who would again have earned a medal in a different sphere of Regimental life. Since 1960, attached personnel have also been eligible for the award. A committee consisting of the Commanding Officer, the Second-in-Command, the Squadron Leaders and the Adjutant decide upon the award of the Medal.

The 14th/20th King’s Hussars Regimental Medal has been carried forward unchanged to The King’s Royal Hussars, who remain one of only two regiments in the British Army to award a Regimental Medal.'

Sold together with the following original archive comprising:

(i)
Commissioning document, dated 9 October 1903.

(ii)
Two letters to his mother from the Boer War, dated 6 & 13 April 1900, from which the quotes have been taken.

(iii)
Several original images of him, together with a good selection of old family research.

(iv)
His cap Badge.

For his miniature dress medal, please see Lot 141.

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Sold for
£600

Starting price
£450