A Great War D.S.O. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. H. Kilner, Royal Field Artillery, who was twice Mentioned in Despatches

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Paardeberg, Cape Colony, Belfast, unofficial rivets between first and second clasps (Major. C. H. Kilner, 62/Bty., R.F.A.) engraved naming; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. C. H. Kilner.); Jubilee 1897, silver, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn; together with the related miniature awards, these similarly mounted (the DSO in gold and the clasps on the miniature QSA in the correct order) and both housed in a fitted case, nearly extremely fine (5) £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Royal Artillery.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

Charles Harold Kilner was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, on 15 August 1864 and was educated at Cheltenham College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery on 5 July 1884 and was posted to the 1/1 North Irish Battery, serving with them in India from September 1885. He was promoted Captain in August 1893 and having returned to the U.K. took part in the Jubilee celebrations whilst serving with 86th Battery, R.F.A.

Kilner served with both the 62nd and 129th Batteries in South Africa during the Boer War, and as Second-in-Command at Paardeberg witnessed the guns of the 62nd being used to fire into Cronje’s laager. He saw further action at Poplar Grove (12 March 1900), Vet River (5-6 May 1900), Zand River, and Belfast (26-27 August 1900). Whilst in South Africa he was promoted Major on 15 March 1900.

Having transferred to the Reserve of Officers, Kilner was recalled for service at the start of the Great War and was employed initially at the Cable Census Office from 9 August 1914, until volunteering for front-line service in October 1915. Granted the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, he was given command of 186th Battery, and served with them on the Western Front from March 1916. He served with this Battery during both the Somme campaign and later at Passchendaele (where he was recommended for promotion to Brigadier), and for his services he was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 18 May 1917 and 14 December 1917). He returned to England in November 1917, and having been awarded the D.S.O. was subsequently employed as Assistant Manager, Inspection Department, Ministry of Munitions.

Kilner died in Southsea, Hampshire, on 2 August 1936. His son Hew Ross Kilner, also had a distinguished career in the Royal Field Artillery, and was awarded the Military Cross in the same Gazette that his father was awarded his D.S.O.

Sold with the recipient’s personal leather bound journal giving details of his life in the Army; the recipient’s Commission Document, dated 1884; Certificate for Special Promotion, dated 1887; Veterinary Course Certificate, dated 1891; a Great War Trench Map (Violaines ands Rue de Marais sector), with positions of 186 Battery during the Somme campaign marked; the recipient’s Passport, dated 1921; various contemporary portrait and group photographs and photographic images; other documents and ephemera; and copied research.