A rare Southern Nigeria D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Brigadier-General G.T. Mair, Royal Artillery

ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE, C.M.G., neck badge in silver-gilt and enamels; DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER, E.VII.R., some damage to green enamel wreaths and obverse centre depressed; QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Capt., 'U' Battery R.H.A.) someofficial corrections to naming, AFRICA GENERAL SERVICE 1902-56, 2 clasps, S. Nigeria 1903, S. Nigeria 1905-06 (Captain, S.N. Regt.); 1914-15 STAR (Lt. Col., D.S.O., R.F.A.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS, M.I.D. (Brig. Gen.); France, LEGION OF HONOUR, 5th class breast badge in silver, gilt and enamels, some light damage to this last, otherwise very fine or better (8)

George Tagore Mair served in the South African campaign with 'U' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, and distinguished himself at the battle of Bothaville on 6 November, 1900. In this bitter engagement commanded by the gallant Channel Islander, Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Le Gallais, Mair had command of one of 'U' Battery's guns. In an exposed position his gun performed valuable service with shrapnel shells until Mair was severely wounded and his gun put out of action, and only saved from capture by the exertions of the Suffolk Mounted Infantry. In this brilliant action the whole of De Wet's artillery was captured including one 15-pounder lost at Colenso and one 12-pounder lost by 'Q' battery at Sanna's Post. Mair was next employed with the West African Frontier Force and served in the expedition in Southern Nigeria August-October, 1903, for which he was mentioned in despatches. He commanded a column in the Bende-Onitsha Hinterland Expedition in Southern Nigeria, 1905-06. For his services during this campaign he was again mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.S.O. London Gazette 18 September, 1903: 'Has commanded a sub-column for five months; to his dash and resource several important captures are due; he showed powers of command in the field of a high order.' During the Great War Mair served in the Cameroon and Nigeria, August 1914 to June 1915, and in France and Belgium from August 1915 until November 1918. He became temporary Brigadier-General, Royal Artillery, 52nd Division, British Armies in France on 15 October, 1918; was twice mentioned in despatches and created C.M.G. and Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Only two D.S.O's were awarded for the campaign in Southern Nigeria 1903-04.