Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 737
Pair: Lieutenant-Colonel J.W. Yardley [C.M.G., D.S.O.], 6th Dragoon Guards Queen´s South Africa 1899-1902, five clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (Major J.W. Yardley, 6/Drgns.); 1914 Star, with Bar (Lt: Col: J.W. Yardley.), good very fine (2) Estimate £ 380-420 Lieutenant-Colonel John Watkins Yardley, C.M.G., D.S.O. (1858-1920), educated at Repton and Trinity College, Cambridge; commissioned Second Lieutenant 6th Dragoon Guards, 1882; served in the Bechuanaland Expedition, 1884-85, and in Zululand 1888; Captain 1887; Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Natal, 1887-90; Commanded ´A´ Squadron, 13.4-16.10.1900, when he was wounded near Bethel; on 11.5.1900, Yardley commanded the escort when Major H. Weston attempted a raid on the railway communication north of Kroonstadt, eight days later he took his squadron to reconnoitre the railway to Honing Spruit, which they were able to do after heavy fighting on the way; during the advance on Johannesburg the 6th Inniskillings siezed Elandsfontein with Major (Later Lord) Allenby and Yardley only narrowly escaping being killed by ´friendly fire´ (Mentioned in a Despatch from Lord Roberts´ for meritorious service, dated 2.4.1901). After the War Yardley wrote ´With the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons in South Africa´, a book which the celebrated American Scout Major F.R. Burnham referred to when giving details of his own career; Yardley then retired only to re-engage for service in the Great War and proceeded to serve with the Staff on the Western Front, 4.10.1914; appointed Deputy Director of Remounts to Cavalry Corps 4/5th Armies (Mentioned in a Despatch from Lord French, dated 1915; C.M.G. London Gazette 1.1.1918; D.S.O. London Gazette 3.6.1916); after the armistice Yardley became the District Remount Officer for Gloucestershire.
Sold for
£440
