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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 420

An exciting campaign group of three awarded to Corporal J. M. Mair, Gordon Highlanders, who was slightly wounded in the double V.C. winning action at Onsrust on 11 July 1900

India General Service 1895-1908, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (4936 Lc Cpl J. Mair 1st Bn Gord: Hrs); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg (4936 Cpl J. Mair Gordon Highrs:); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4936 J. Mair. Gordon Highrs:), light contact marks, very fine (3)

John Middleton Mair was born at Turriff, Aberdeenshire in 1874 and enlisted with the Gordon Highlanders on 26 December 1893 at Aberdeen. Posted to the 2nd Battalion in Britain he was ordered to the East Indies in 1896, where he was transferred to the 1st Battalion in December 1896. They served on the Punjab Frontier during the disturbances there in 1897-1898, taking part in the Tirah expedition in that time.

The Battalion famously took part in the carrying of the Dargai Heights at bayonet point, during which Pte E. Lawson and Piper G. F. Findlater were awarded the Victoria Cross. Notably Findlater, like Mair, was from Turriff, thereafter the 1st Battalion was known as 'The Dargai Battalion'. Mair was appointed Lance-Corporal in 1898, the Battalion transferred to Egypt for just two months before arriving in Britain in December 1898. Once there he was again promoted Corporal in April 1898.

Sailing for the war in South Africa in November 1899, the 1st Battalion was counted an experienced fighting battalion, one of their recent Victoria Crosses, Pte Lawson was still with them at that time. They were to see considerable action, winning a further four Victoria Crosses. Within weeks the Gordons were in action at Magersfontein, sent in at mid-day to try and advance the attack. They failed and spent the afternoon in the boiling sun until night fell and they could retire.

Back in action at Paardeberg, they supported the Canadians in their charge on the Boer trenches. After Paardeberg and Driefontein, the 1st Battalion turned right and headed into the Orange Free State. They took part in the battle of Hout Nek on April 30 and on Toba Mountain Captain Towse won a Victoria Cross. Turning north the honour of capturing Johannesburg fell to the 1st Battalion who executed another bayonet charge at the battle of Doornkop on 29 May. The war correspondent, March Phillips wrote of them: 'The front rank, when the order to advance was given, stepped down with a swing of the kilt and a swagger that only a Highland regiment has'.

Forming part of a column heading to occupy Krugersdorp in July 1900 they met opposition at the farm of Onrust. Two guns of the 78th battery came into action only 800 yards from the enemy and the resulting fire quickly shot down 15 of 17 gunners. Efforts to rescue the guns failed and the Gordon Highlanders were called on to help by attaching ropes and trying to drag them into cover. Captain W. E. Gordon was wounded and Captain D.R. Younger was killed in the attempt, and both were awarded Victoria Crosses. Despite their heroic efforts they managed to only get an artillery wagon back, however the guns were not lost as the infantry could guard them from two kopjes until night when they spirited them away.

Research had not identified the men who accompanied Gordon and Younger, no D.C.M.s were awarded although Gordon's citation notes three of the men with him were hit. A total of eleven men of the Battalion were hit, including Mair who was slightly wounded at the action, it is certainly plausible that he was part of the effort to rescue the guns. He served until the end of the war, before being discharged to the Reserves in South Africa.

Mair's remarkable military career spanned nine years, including a number of pitched battles and he perhaps witnessed six V.C.s being won, and may have been part of a small V.C. action himself.

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Sold for
£450

Starting price
£280