Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Lieutenant-Colonel H. M. Welstead, Leicestershire Regiment, killed in action whilst commanding the 9th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers in Gallipoli
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (Major, Leic. Regt.) official correction to rank; British War Medal (Lt. Col.) edge bruise to the first, otherwise very fine or better (2)

Harry Marrion Welstead was born in 1861 and educated at Cheltenham College. He joined the Leicestershire Regiment as Lieutenant in 1881, being promoted Captain in 1890. He served in the South African War with the 1st battalion and was present at the engagement at Talana; took part in the march from Dundee to Ladysmith, the engagement at Lombard’s Kop, and the siege of Ladysmith; in the subsequent advance under Sir Redvers Buller through Northern Natal into the Transvaal, including the engagements at Amersfort, Ermelo, Geluk’s Farm, Bergendal, Badfontein and Lydenberg, and the operations under Lieut. General Lyttelton; in command of the battalion from 9th October, 1900, to 7th december, 1900; took part in the operations under Sir J. D. P. French in the Eastern Transvaal and the Swaziland border, under Major General W. Kitchener in Blood River Valley, South Eastern Transvaal, and Slangapies. He was twice mentioned in despatches and given a Brevet Majority. Promoted to Major on 2 August, 1902, Welstead retired in 1908 and was placed on the Reserve of Officers. He was recalled for service in the Great War and given the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel while in command of the 9th battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. The battalion went to Egypt in July 1915 and thence to Gallipoli, landing at Suvla Bay on 6th August. Lieutenant Colonel Welstead was killed in action on 17th August, 1915, aged 54 years, and was buried at Hill 10 Cemetery, Suvla.