Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare C.M.G., Ashanti D.S.O. and Great War Bar group of seven awarded to Lieutenant Colonel J. H. E. Holford, Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, late 7th Hussars
The Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., neck badge in silver-gilt and enamels, some enamel damage to reverse centre; Distinguished Service Order, V.R., with Second Award Bar; British South Africa Company Medal 1890-1897, reverse Rhodesia 1896 (2nd Lieut., 7th Huss.); Ashanti 1900, clasp, Kumassi, high relief bust (Captain, D.S.O., 7th Hussars); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. (Lt. Col.); Italy, Al Valore Militare, silver, unnamed as issued, together with the Italian Altipiani medal in silver, very fine or better and a very rare group (8)

C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January, 1919, ‘For Military Operations in Italy.’
D.S.O. London Gazette 15 January, 1901, ‘In recognition of services during the recent operations in Ashanti.’ The insignia were presented by the King at St. James’s Palace on 12 March, 1901.
Bar to D.S.O. London Gazette 1 February, 1919: ‘Major (Temporary Lieut-Colonel), Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, attached 12th Battn. Durham Light Infantry (Italy). For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in command of a battalion during the operations on the Piave from 27 to 30 Oct. 1918. Under heavy machine-gun fire he frequently reorganized his battalion and led them forward to their next objective, showing a total disregard for his own safety. His courage and able leadership were most marked.’
M.I.D. London Gazette 4 December, 1900; 30 May, 1918; 6 January and 5 June, 1919.

James Henry Edward Holford was born in December 1873, and gazetted to the 7th Hussars on 7 March, 1894, taking part in the operations in South Africa in 1896. He became Lieutenant in May 1898, and next served, as Captain, in the operations in Ashanti, where he was appointed D.A.A.G. to the Ashanti Field Force and given command of a column in the mopping-up operations in the North and North-West of the country in September 1900. For his services he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.S.O. He became Adjutant of the Denbigh Hussars, Imperial Yeomanry, 3 January, 1902, and retired in 1905. On the outbreak of the Great War he was appointed Major in the Nottinghamshire Hussars, and later commanded the 12th (Service) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, in Italy. For his services in Italy he was three times mentioned, created a C.M.G., and awarded a clasp to his D.S.O. and the Italian silver medal for bravery. Approximately 35 officers with pre-war D.S.O.’s subsequently won a Bar in the Great War.