Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (22864 Sgt. S. Grist, R.E.) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine £600-700

D.C.M. London Gazette 19 April 1901.

Samuel Crisp was born in Portsea, Hampshire and enlisted in the Royal Engineers at Portsmouth in July 1888, aged 21 years. Advanced to Corporal in May 1895 and to Sergeant in October 1899, he departed for South Africa in the following month. Serving with distinction in the Boer War, he was mentioned in despatches by Sir Redvers Buller ‘For conspicuous bravery and coolness when laying a pontoon bridge under fire on several occasions, specially at Munger’s Drift on 5 February 1900’, and was awarded the D.C.M. in April of the following year. The action at Munger’s Drift occurred at the start of the battle of Vaal Krantz, Buller’s third unsuccessful attempt after Colenso and Spion Kop to break through to Ladysmith. The 70 yard pontoon bridge was gallantly completed in one hour, eight men being wounded in the process.

In addition to his D.C.M., by the War’s end Grist had qualified for the Queen’s Medal with clasps for ‘Cape Colony’, ‘Tugela Heights’, ‘Relief of Ladysmith’, ‘Laing’s Nek’ and ‘Transvaal’, in addition to the King’s Medal with two clasps.

Returning home to the U.K. in November 1902, he was advanced to Company Sergeant-Major in March 1906, received the L.S. & G.C. Medal and was discharged at Curragh Camp in July 1909. He died at Farnborough in December 1945, aged 78 years.