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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 924

The outstanding and unique 'Kachumbe Fort' 1916 D.C.M. group of four awarded to Lieutenant C. T. C. Doran, 4th (Uganda) Battalion, King's African Rifles, who was decorated for his gallantry whilst a Sergeant with the Uganda Volunteer Reserve

Hailing from the Emerald Isle, young Doran had served during the Boer War before settling in East Africa as a planter, he then saw active service in Nandi and the Great War, adding a 'mention' and the Russian Cross of St George for good measure

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (125 Sjt: C. T. C. Doran. Uganda V.R.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Nandi 1905-06 (Tel. Ins: C. T. Doran. 3/K.A.R.), edge milled and suspension re-affixed; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lieut. C. T. C. Doran.), lacquered, very fine (4)

A unique award for any Ugandan unit during the Great War.

D.C.M. London Gazette 16 May 1916:

'For conspicuous gallantry when holding with a few men, a post which he had constructed against an overwhelming number of the enemy with a machine gun. The enemy were not only driven off with very heavy losss, but their machine gun was captured.'

[Russian Cross of St George, 3rd Class] London Gazette 15 February 1917.

Charles Thomas Campbell Doran was born in 1880 at Magheralin, County Down, Ireland. The youngest son of the Principal of Maralin National School, he first saw active service with the Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer War. Doran was a medical student upon his joining at Belfast in January 1900 and he served in South Africa with the 54th Company from 3 March 1900-8 May 1902 (Queen's Medal & 3 clasps).

He went out planting in Uganda and also served with the 3rd Battalion, King's African Rifles as a Telegraph Inspector during the Nandi Campaign (Medal & clasp). Upon the outbreak of the Great War he swiftly enlisted in the Uganda Volunteer Reserve (Rifles) and '...served on the Southern Frontier during 1914 and 1915' (1914-15 Star). Having earned his unique D.C.M. for the action at Kachumbe Fort near the Kagera River, Budda on 18 February 1916. It was the only such award to his unit and the only award in Uganda, when Doran was commanding a small detachment of the Uganda Police Service Battalion. His unit were renamed the Baganda Rifles and he was commissioned Lieutenant in March 1916, before joining the 4th Battalion, King's African Rifles in November 1916. Doran further added to his laurels with a 'mention' (London Gazette 8 February 1917) and the Russian Cross of St George before War's end; sold together with copied research.

He is recorded on the Europeans in East Africa Database; https://www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk/_site/custom/database/default.asp?a=viewIndividual&pid=2&person=19967

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Sold for
£5,200

Starting price
£3500