A superb Boer War ‘guerilla operations’ D.S.O., double issue ‘Diamond Hill’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Colonel R. C. F. Holman, New South Wales Mounted Infantry, a veteran of the Bechuanaland Expedition in 1884, whose bayonet charge into Boer fortifications at Diamond Hill, 12 June 1900, and repeated raids on Boer Commandos, 1901-02, led to an exceptionally rare combination of gallantry awards for the Boer War

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Jubilee 1897, silver (W.O. Holman N.S.W. Mounted Rifles.); Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Serjt:-Maj: R. C. Holman. N.S. Wales M.I.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (Lieut: R. C. Holman, N.S. Wales M.R.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt. & Adjt. R. C. Holman. N.S.W. M.R.) these five mounted cavalry style as worn in this order; Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (Serjt:-Maj: R. C. Holman. N.S. Wales M.I.), all housed in a damaged contemporary fitted case, obverse centre of D.S.O. depressed with enamel damage to obverse and reverse wreaths, otherwise good very fine with an occasionally seen double issue of the D.C.M. (6) £14,000-£18,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Warwick Cary.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 31 October 1902: Captain R. C. Holman, New South Wales.
‘In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.’

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901: Sergeant-Major R. C. Holman (Mounted Infantry).
‘In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.’

M.I.D. London Gazettes 16 April 1901 and 29 July 1902

Richard Charles Frederick Holman was born in 1861 at Broadway, Dorset and was educated at King’s College, London. Having enlisted in the ranks of the British Army, he saw his first South African service in 1884 when he formed one of Lord Methuen’s corps of 800 picked volunteers which took part in the Bechuanaland expedition, rising to the rank of Sergeant. He left for Australia soon afterwards and served with the New South Wales Police Force, 1886-88 after which, having settled in Campbelltown, New South Wales, he was granted warrant officer rank in the New South Wales Permanent Mounted Infantry in 1890. In 1897, he spent several months in England on attachment to the 4th Dragoon Guards and 1st Battalion, Scots Guards and attended Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations as a member of the New South Wales military detachment.
On 3 November 1899, he embarked for South Africa as Warrant Officer and Regimental Sergeant-Major of the 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles and served with them during the campaign against the Boers, including service at the relief of Kimberley, the engagements at Paardeberg and Bloemfontein, the general advance with Lord Roberts to Kroonstadt, Johannesburg and Pretoria. He was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on Colonel de Lisle’s recommendation for persistent good work, especially at Diamond Hill on 12 June 1900, where he led a bayonet charge against Boer fortifications.

Returning to Sydney in January 1901, Holman was immediately offered and accepted the adjutancy of the 2nd Mounted Rifles under Lieutenant-Colonel Lassetter, with the rank of Lieutenant, embarking for South Africa once more in March 1901.
He spent the remainder of the war engaged in operations against Boer guerilla forces, including repeated raids on Boer Commandos and capturing several enemy convoys. In one year, the 2nd Mounted Rifles travelled over 4000 miles in every part of the Transvaal, and made more night marches than any other unit. For his services during this period he was again mentioned in despatches, promoted Captain in May 1901 by Lord Kitchener and awarded the Distinguished Service Order in August 1902.
He remained in the army after the end of the war, serving as Brigade Major with the 3rd Light Horse Brigade from December 1913 until September 1916 when he relinquished the post to take command of the Liverpool Concentration Camp, New South Wales with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He carried out these duties until he retired on 4 February 1920 with the honorary rank of full Colonel. He died at Ingleburn in 1933.

Holman’s combination of D.S.O. and D.C.M. is believed to be one of only two awarded for a single campaign prior to the Great War, the other being Lieutenant S. E. Craig, of Loch’s Horse.

Note: This lot is available for viewing in Swanbourne, Western Australia, by appointment with our Australasian representative, John Burridge.