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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 178

A Great War D.S.O. and M.C. group of eight awarded to Major H. Anderson, Royal Irish Regiment

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, top riband bar adapted for wear; Military Cross, G.V.R.; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Wittebergen, Belfast (Lieut H. Anderson 1/Rl. Irish Regt.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. H. Anderson. Rl. Irish Rgt.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. H. Anderson. R. Ir. Regt.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major H. Anderson.); Egypt, Kingdom, Order of the Nile, 4th Class breast Badge, silver-gilt, silver and enamel, by Lattes, very fine (8)

D.S.O. London Gazette 26 July 1918:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was sent to take a hill with two companies. In advancing they were exposed to heavy machine-gun fire, causing some wavering. He showed complete disregard of danger, and by his fine example encouraged his men and took his objective.'

M.C. London Gazette 4 June 1917.

M.I.D. London Gazette 29 March 1917.

Egypt, Order of the Nile 4th Class London Gazette 19 January 1920.

Horace Anderson was born at Streatham on 22 July 1878 and joined the Militia prior to being commissioned Second Lieutenant with the Royal Irish Regiment on 20 December 1899. Posted to South Africa he entered the war in South Africa seeing Operations in the Orange Free State from March to May 1900. Anderson then served in operations in the Orange River Colony between May and August 1900, including the actions at Bethlehem on 6-7 July and in Wittebergen from 1-29 July.

The unit was then transferred to in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria from August 1900, seeing the actions at Belfast from 26-27 August and at Lydenberg between 5-8 September. Advanced Lieutenant on 28 October 1900 he was further involved in operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River in 1900 as well as operations in the Transvaal from 30 November 1900- April 1901 and December 1901 until 31 May 1902.

Resigning his commission on 8 June 1910, he returned to colours on the outbreak of the Great War. Initially stationed with the 4th Battalion he was promoted Captain into the 3rd Battalion on 25 November 1914. Anderson entered the war in France in March 1915 and suffered a gunshot wound to the skull on 8 July, later being released from hospital on 18 July 1915.

Having been acting in the rank of Major since at least 1918 Anderson was confirmed in the role in 1921. He applied for his medals on 31 January 1922 and they were to be originally sent to the Glendower Hotel, South Kensington, London but then to the Hong Kong, Shanghai Bank, Gracechurch Street, London.

Sold with the following archive:

(i)
Warrant for the Distinguished Service Order.

(ii)
A copy of the Statutes of the Distinguished Service Order.

(iii)
Mention in Despatches Certificate.

(iv)
Warrant for the award of the Egyptian Order of the Nile.

(v)
A standard note from General Allenby dated 26 September 1918 thanking everyone involved in the total destruction of the Viith and Viiith Turkish Armies.

For his helmet plate, please see Lot 280.

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Estimate
£1,600 to £2,000

Starting price
£1600