Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The outstanding Great War D.S.O. group of six awarded to Lieutenant the Honourable E. C. Hardinge, 15th Hussars, who won probably the first D.S.O. of the war for a daring reconnaissance on 22nd-23rd August and for gallantry on 27th August, 1914, when he was mortally wounded in assisting the Munster Fusiliers during their legendary withdrawal to Etreux

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R.; 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut. Hon. E. C. Hardinge, 15/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. Hon. E. C. Hardinge); Coronation 1902, silver; Delhi Durbar 1911, together with Bronze Memorial Plaque (Hon. Edward Charles Hardinge) extremely fine (7) £4000-5000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Richard Magor Collection of Medals Relating to India and Africa, and other Fine Awards.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 9 November 1914: ‘In recognition of their services with the Expeditionary Force: Lieutenant The Honourable Edward Charles Hardinge, 15th (The King’s) Hussars, 1st Divisional Cavalry. For ability and gallantry in reconnaissance under fire, on 22nd-23rd and 27th August, during which he was severely wounded.’ This gazette contains the first 16 awards of the D.S.O. for the Great War, of which Hardinge has the only citation that carries a date prior to the 26th August.

Edward Charles Hardinge was the elder son of Charles, Baron Hardinge of Penshurst, P.C., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., I.S.O., Viceroy and Governor-General of India, and was born at Constantinople on 3 May 1892. He was educated at Wellington College, and while there was a Page of Honour to King Edward VII, and afterwards went to the R.M.C., Sandhurst, receiving his commission in the 15th Hussars in September 1911, in December of which year he was Honorary A.D.C. to the Viceroy during the Delhi Durbar. He joined his regiment in South Africa in January 1912, and became Lieutenant in August 1914.

Lieutenant Hardinge rode with distinction in the International Horse Show at Olympia in 1914, winning full marks in the London to Aldershot ride. He was a member of the Cavalry Club, a very keen rider to hounds, and won the Subalterns’ Point-to-Point Race at the regimental races in January 1914.

He served with the 15th Hussars in the Great War and died on 18 December, 1914, form blood-poisoning caused by a very severe wound in the right arm, received on 27 August, near Le Cateau, eight bullets from a machine-gun fracturing the bone. He had already done good work before being wounded, for which he was awarded the D.S.O., His Majesty the King-Emperor graciously notifying the award to Lord Hardinge in the following telegram:- ‘I have had great pleasure in conferring the Distinguished Service Order on your son for ability and gallantry in reconnaissance under machine-gun fire on three successive days, when he was severely wounded. Glad to say he is progressing well.’

The following details of two conspicuous acts of great bravery and gallantry have been recorded, the latter being the occasion on which he received his wound:

(1) On August 23rd, about 9.30 p.m., Lieutenant Hardinge was sent out from Rouveroy on a most difficult and dangerous night reconnaissance towards Binche, to ascertain movements of the Germans, of which information was very urgently needed. He succeeded in reaching the village of Estinne Hud-Mont. Having avoided Uhlan patrols, and having hidden his small patrol in a stone electric machinery building, he climbed the church tower with a sergeant, and waited for dawn to break. Whilst waiting a Uhlan patrol entered the village, and others came round it. He remained quietly in observation and they failed to discover him or his patrol. In the early morning he was able to locate German batteries in position south-west of Binche, a brigade of cavalry moving due west from that place, and their infantry massing near a wood south of it. His difficulty was then to get away, being surrounded, but fortunately another patrol, under Lieutenant Nicholson, 15th Hussars, seeing his predicament, came to his assistance by firing on the Uhlans, and then by withdrawing drew them off and so enabled Lieutenant Hardinge to get through with his most valuable information. He was very highly complimented and noted for reward.

(2) On August 27th two troops (Lieutenant Hardinge’s being one) were sent out at 4 a.m. from Oisy on rearguard work, his troop reconnoitring and observing on the right front, and right of the rearguard position being held. German columns were reported advancing, and about 10.30 a.m. the patrols were driven in by German infantry. The attack gradually developed, and shortly before 1 p.m. became very heavy, and the flanking company of the Royal Munster Fusiliers, near Bergues, was in difficulties. Lieutenant Hardinge, with his troop, was sent to their assistance, and came into action on their left, opposite three machine-guns, which he located and tried to silence. A fourth then came into action, outflanking him, and, causing some casualties, forced him to retire.



Realising that the position of the Munsters was untenable (who had to hold on to prevent the rest of the battalion being cut off) unless this machine-gun was put out of action, he led a few men up again most gallantly to try and capture it. Whilst trying to locate it exactly he had to stand up and use his glasses, and so became exposed to its fire. He was very severely wounded, his left arm being badly shattered. After having it temporarily bound up, he told his men to hold on as long as they could, and to help the Munsters out, and then quite calmly walked back to where his horses were, and was then taken into the ambulance.

In The First Seven Divisions, Lord Ernest Hamilton says: ‘The story of the rescue of the Munsters by the 15th Hussars is one of which the latter regiment may well be proud. Two troops only of the 15th Hussars were engaged, and yet the number of honours that fell to them is remarkable... The story of this affair is as follows: It was reported to the General Commanding that the Munster Fusiliers were in trouble, and the 15th Hussars, who were acting as divisional cavalry, were sent back to help. The country in the neighbourhood of Bergues is a difficult one, being traversed by numerous narrow byways cutting in all directions, and the 15th Hussars, not knowing just where the Munster Fusiliers were, separated into troops and beat the country northwards. Just south of Bergues, where the road from that place meets the main road to La Capelle, Mr Nicholson’s troop found 150 of the Munster Fusiliers in great difficulties with some Germans in pursuit not 200 yards distant. He at once dismounted the troop, and sending the horses off for shelter to a farmyard behind, lined the hedges on the side of the main road and opened fire on the Germans. These retired to a farm some 200 yards up the road, from which they presently brought a machine-gun to bear on the hedges, and under cover of this they shortly afterwards emerged, driving a herd of cattle before them down the road. The Hussars, however, shot down both cattle and Germans, and sent the survivors scuttling back once more into the farm. In the meanwhile, the Hon. E. Hardinge’s troop, having heard the firing, arrived on the scene from another direction, and, also dismounting, crept up to a position from which they could command the farmyard, and opened fire on the Germans massed inside, doing tremendous execution at first, as it was a complete surprise. The Germans, however, quickly recovered themselves, and returned the fire with machine-guns. Almost at the first discharge Mr Hardinge fell mortally wounded, and Sergt.Papworth took over command of the troop. Bodies of the enemy were now seen advancing on all sides, and it was obvious that, if the little British force was to escape being surrounded, it was time to move.There is always a disposition on such occasions for very tired men to throw up the sponge and surrender. In the present instance, however, any such inclination was summarily checked by the energy and determination of Mr Nicholson and Sergeant Papworth, who, taking prompt charge of the situation, brought the whole party, Munsters and all, safely out of the difficulty. They had to put in twenty-eight miles of steady marching before they finally caught up with their division.’