Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War 1918 Tank Corps D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Major A. R. H. Rycroft, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Yeomanry, late Royal Welsh Fusiliers, ‘for conspicuous gallantry and ability’ whilst leading a company of Whippet Tanks during the battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (Lieut. A. R. H. Rycroft, R. Welsh, Fus:); 1914-15 Star (Capt. A. R. H. Rycroft. W. Kent. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major. A. R. H. Rycroft.); Coronation 1911; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919, with integral top riband bar, very fine and better (7) £1,400-£1,800

D.S.O. London Gazette 7 November 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and ability. He led the company of Tanks, of which he was in command, on horseback, and was responsible for the capture of several batteries of artillery. He showed great ability as a leader, and by the example of his personal courage did much to ensure the success gained by his company.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 30 December 1918

Alfred Richard Hugh Rycroft, the second son of Third Baronet Rycroft, was born on 21 February 1876. Educated at Eton, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 15 November 1899. Serving in South Africa during the Boer War, he took part in operations in Natal, Tugela Heights, the relief of Ladysmith, and later operations in the Cape Colony. In 1901, he was a representative for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Sydney, during the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Yeomanry on 7 January 1903, he was promoted Lieutenant on 17 June 1905 and Captain on 4 April 1909, and was appointed District Remount Officer for South Gloucester District on 1 April 1914. Serving with the Regiment during the Great War, he was promoted Major on 2 September 1916 and was seconded to the Tank Corps on 4 January 1918. As commander of ‘B’ Company, 6th Battalion Tank Corps (16 Whippets tanks), he was awarded the D.S.O. for his actions during the battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918, during which battle he was also wounded. Although it is not clear what his prior service on the Western Front was, ‘The Dragon, The Regimental Paper for the Buffs’, notes:
‘When the Machine Gun Corps was formed, the former machine gun sections of the two Kent Yeomanry units were among the personnel transferred to the new unit ; when tanks first came into being some of the yeomen were among the earliest to volunteer to be trained in handling the new weapon of war, one officer of the West Kent Yeomanry, Major A. R. H. Rycroft, earning a great reputation as a tank commander, and being awarded the D.S.O.’

Following the cessation of hostilities, Rycroft was again appointed District Remount Officer for South Gloucester District on 21 February 1919, and held this post until April 1937. He died on 5 April 1944.

Sold with a Fourth Army Certificate of congratulations named to the recipient on the occasion of the award of his D.S.O., this with some water damage; and a mounted copy of the Army Orders, Fourth Army, announcing his D.S.O.