Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 75

(x) The Queen's South Africa Medal awarded to Major Lord J. G. Romilly, Coldstream Guards, 3rd Baron Romilly, a descendant of William the Conqueror

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Belfast (Capt: Lord J. G. Le M. Romilly, Coldstm: G.), very fine

John Gaspard Le Marchant Romilly, 3rd Baron Romilly was born at Kensington, London on 1 March 1866. Of Huguenot ancestry from Montpellier, he was the only child of William Romilly, 2nd Baron Romilly and his first wife, Emily Idonea Sophia Le Marchant. After his mother's death two weeks after his birth in 1866, his father remarried Helen Denison (the eldest daughter of Edward Hanson Denison of Rusholme near Manchester) on 6 November 1872. In May 1891, his father and two servants died of smoke inhalation from a fire at his London residence.

His paternal grandparents were the former Caroline Charlotte Otter (second daughter of Rt. Rev. William Otter, Bishop of Chichester) and the English Whig politician John Romilly, 1st Baron Romilly who served in Lord John Russell's first administration as Solicitor-General and later as Attorney-General. He was the second son of Sir Samuel Romilly, MP, and the older brother of Frederick Romilly, MP. His maternal grandparents were the former Margaret Anne Taylor (third daughter of Rev. Robert Taylor of Clifton Campville) and Lt.-Gen. Sir John Gaspard Le Marchant who served as Governor of Newfoundland, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, and Governor of Malta. His grandfather was the son of Maj.-Gen. John Le Marchant and the younger brother of Sir Denis Le Marchant, 1st Baronet.

Commissioned into the 7th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps on 13 March 1886 he was posted to the Coldstream Guards on 5 May 1888, being elevated to Lieutenant on 27 January 1891 and attaining his Captaincy with the Coldstream Guards in 1898. He resigned his commission on 12 October 1898 and was made Captain of the Reserve of Officers in 1900. He served in the Boer War with his old Regiment, the Coldstream Guards, being promoted to Major in 1902. In the campaign he was a special service officer and in the lines of communication, sharing in the actions at Vet & Zand River, at Johannesburg and thence the Battle of Belfast.

Married to Violet Edith Grey-Egerton in London on 3 August 1897, she was the only daughter of Sir Philip Grey-Egerton, 11th Baronet of Oulton Park and the former Hon. Henrietta Elizabeth Sophia Denison (eldest daughter of Albert Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough). They were the parents of William Gaspard Guy Romilly, 4th Baron Romilly who married Hon. Diana Joan Sackville-West, the only daughter of Charles Sackville-West, 4th Baron Sackville.

Lord Romilly died on 23 June 1905 following an operation in hospital and was succeeded by his only son William, upon whose death in 1983 the Barony became extinct. His wife died the following year apparently of a broken heart; sold together with a letter from the 2nd Baron (dated 12 February 1850), copied research and Marching as to War by Roy F. Ramsbottom, the story of the Egerton twins of Oulton Park.


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£1,500

Starting price
£400