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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 205

A remarkable 'Anglo-Boer War' D.S.O., 'Great War' Bar group of seven awarded to Brigadier-General E. Paterson, 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, who was wounded during the Boer War as he rode alongside Jan Smuts himself and was later mentioned in 1901

Taking command of the Regiment Paterson led them through the bloody battles in France earning his Bar for command of the 6th Cavalry Brigade during the Hundred Days Offensive, receiving another four 'mentions' in the conflict


Distinguished Service Order, V.R., with Second Award Bar; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 5 claps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (Capt: E. Paterson. D.S.O. 6t Dragoons); 1914-15 Star (Major E. Paterson. D.S.O. 6/Dns.); British War and Victory Medals (Brig.Gen. E. Paterson.), with M.I.D. oakleaves; Coronation 1902; Romania, Kingdom, The Order of the Crown of Romania, Commander's neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, hallmarked to ring, light enamel wear to first, minor contact marks to campaign awards overall very fine and rare (7)

D.S.O. London Gazette 27 September 1901.

Second Award Bar London Gazette 22 June 1918, the original recommendation states:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Owing to the neighbouring troops being driven back, his flank became exposed and a gap was made in the line. Though he had very few men, he at once extended his flank and maintained a most gallant and determined resistance for an hour against largely superior numbers, closing the gap at a most critical moment until other troops were able to advance and restore the line. His tactical handling of the Brigade during successive withdrawals, often with one or both flanks exposed, was magnificent.'

Commander of the Order of the Crown of Romania, London Gazette 20 September 1919.

Ewing Paterson was born in Fife, Scotland on 8 June 1873, the second son of John and Jane Paterson of Kinburn House, Kinburn and Langraw, St. Andrews. Educated first at St. Andrews and later in Germany he was commissioned Second Lieutenant the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Manchester Regiment in 1889. Transferring to the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons on 9 September 1893 Paterson was advanced Lieutenant with this unit on 1 January 1895.

South Africa

Posted to South Africa on the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War the Regiment was heavily involved in actions at Colesburg, south of the Orange River. Paterson, distinguished himself at on this occasion, being mentioned several times in With the Inniskilling Dragoons notably during an Boer flanking attack at Arundel on 20 February 1900, it states:

'They nearly succeeded, however, in gaining a position commanding the camp, when Lieut. Paterson, with B Squadron Inniskilling Dragoons, who was luckily returning from a reconnaissance at the time, perceived their intention, With great promptitude he raced for the position, seized it first, and drove back with heavy loss the astonished Boers who were advancing up the far side.

Three days later it was Paterson who, again at the head of a reconnaissance patrol, captured Rensburg itself. Finding the Boer rear-guard was weak he led his small force into an attack and seized the town. They again caught up with the Boer rear-guard whilst reconnoitring towards Norvalspont on 3 March, this time Paterson was leading a mixed force of fifty men, the encounter was a bloody one:

'After proceeding twelve miles they fell in with the Boer rear-guard and a smart encounter ensured. Lieut. Paterson attacked boldly, inflicting considerable loss on the enemy, many of whom were seen to fall. The ponies of a Cape cart endeavouring to escape were shot, but the Boer coming on in great force affected the rescue of the occupants. It transpired later that one of these was an important officer of the Boer Artillery who was coming to select positions for their guns to retard our forces. On our occupation of Bloemfontein this same cart was found there riddled with bullet-holes and had been exhibited by the Boers as a curiosity. Lieut. Paterson's own horse was shot as he was mounting, and several others were killed and wounded, but, having made a useful reconnaissance, he brought back his patrol without casualty, the dismounted men riding in on donkeys they had captured.'

He was in action at Karee Siding and the Vet River from 5-6 May as well as the Zand River, fighting around Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill in June and Operations in the Transvaal, including actions at Reit Vlei and Belfast in August. This was followed by fighting at Rhenoster River in the Orange River Colony. Paterson was at the forefront of these actions being mentioned often by Lieutenant-Colonel J. Watkins Yardley in With the Inniskilling Dragoons.

In one skirmish near Lake Chrissie, he had a face-to-face engagement with one of the Boer's leaders, Watkins Yardley takes up the story, stating 'Lieut. Paterson behaved with great dash, being slightly wounded as he galloped, unfortunately unarmed, alongside Commandant Smuts himself.'

Watkins Yardley himself was wounded in the same engagement and lay with Paterson, who had been shot in the thigh, and another Lieutenant while being treated. Unfortunately, while the wound did heal Paterson returned to duty too quickly and the resulting inflammation saw him invalided back to Britain. He received a further 'mentioned' for his services in South Africa alongside his D.S.O. (London Gazette 10 September 1901).

Return to Britain and the Great War

Having arrived back in Britain Paterson found himself seconded to the Yeomanry on 7 May 1901 as Adjutant of the Devon Yeomanry Brigade and advanced Captain in the role on 10 July. Holding that appointment until 1905 he was further promoted Major that same year on 14 October 1905. Having returned to his Regiment he enjoyed a period of relative calm in his life which he used to marry Jessy Rigden, the widow of one W. E. Rigden. On the outbreak of the Great War Paterson was still stationed with the unit and entered the war in France in 1915, his MIC notes his entitlement to the 1914-15 Star but does not note the date of entry to the war.

Appointed to command the Regiment in France with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel which he was advanced to on 18 August 1915. It was while performing this role that he received his first 'mention' of the war (London Gazette 15 June 1916). Given command of the 6th Cavalry Brigade in 1918 he was to command it until the end of the war, receiving a further 'mention' (London Gazette 20 May 1918) to pair with his D.S.O.

Promoted as far as Brigadier-General by the end of the war Paterson was to earn two more 'mentions' (London Gazette 20 December 1918, 5 July 1919) for his work. The final addition to this was his appointment to the Order of the Crown of Romania which was presented to him during his time on the Staff. Posted to the Cavalry School, Netheravon as Commandant in 1920 Paterson received his medals there and served for several years before retiring in 1923; sold together with copied research including extracts from The Distinguished Service Order, Who's Who, With the Inniskilling Dragoons and London Gazette as well as a copied MIC

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Estimate
£4,500 to £5,000

Starting price
£4000