Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant C. J. L. Gilson, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, late Sherwood Foresters, dangerously wounded at Vlakfontein, 29 May 1901

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, South Africa 1901 (Lieut., Derby. Regt.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.N.V.R.) some corrosion to last, very fine (3)
£350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine Collection of Medals to the Sherwood Foresters.

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Charles James Louis Gilson was born in Dedham, Essex on 8 July 1878. He was educated at Dulwich College before entering the Sherwood Foresters in 1899. With them he served in Malta, Hong Kong, Tientsin and Singapore.

During the Boer War he was attached to the A.S.C. from 26 November 1900. Performed the duties of a Station Staff Officer, 12-17 August 1900; afterwards Acting Quartermaster of Welverdiend Garrison from 1 September 1900. Served in operations in the Orange Free State, including actions at Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River and Zand River. Operations in the Transvaal, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill. Operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria; also in the Orange River Colony and the Cape Colony, south of the Orange River. He served in operations in the Transvaal from November 1900 to May 1901. Gilson was dangerously wounded at Vlakfontein. (In his Who’s Who entry he states he was wounded five times). For his services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901).

In the Great War, serving as a Lieutenant in the R.N.V.R. he served at Antwerp, 1914. Later served as Major Commandant of Detention Barracks, Derby. He wrote The History of The 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters in The Boer War (copy included with lot) and was also a noted author of books for boys, having over 50 published works. Major Gilson died on 18 May 1943.

With copied research.