Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private W. H. W. Luetchford, 9th Lancers, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his gallantry at Slik Spruit, 2 December 1900

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (3827 Pte. W. Leutchfird [sic]. 9th. Lancers); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3827 Pte. W. Lentchford [sic]. 9th. Lancers.) small dig to reverse of KSA, otherwise nearly extremely fine (2) £360-£400

William Henry Wylie Luetchford was born in Leytonstone, Essex, in 1875 and attested for the 9th Lancers on 20 May 1895. He served with the Regiment in India from 17 September 1897, and in South Africa during the Boer War from 14 October 1899 to 4 April 1902, and was Mentioned in Lord Kitchener’s Despatch of 8 March 1901 (London Gazette 7 May 1901). The Diary of the 9th Lancers gives the following account:

‘Out column left Bethulie at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday 2nd December 1900, for Slik Spruit, while Pilcher’s started out on the Springfontein road. Herbert’s column had gone back to Carmel. Arrived at the spruit soon after 11:00 a.m., and had just off-saddled, when we heard Herbert’s guns in the distance, and shortly afterwards a message came in to say that Herbert was being heavily attacked on front, left, and rear. We saddled up and moved out towards Badfontein, the “D” Squadron being in front with Lieutenant Theobald’s troop in advance. They being opposed by Boers to the left front, out guns came up and cleared the way for them. A good many Boers were now seen to the front and right front. Lieutenant Jackson’s troop was sent to the right front, so as to give Theobald’s troop time to work round by swinging right-handed. The opposition was now pretty general, and as the Boers saw us coming on rapidly, they opened a gun on us. However, the ridges overlooking the farm and the valley under the Boer position were gained, which caused the Boer’s to retire from Herbert’s left and rear. “A” Squadron had come up in support, while the Yeomanry were sent to hold the kopje from which the Boers originally opened on Theobald.
While this had been going on Lieutenant Theobald had been working round, but had got stranded by wire not many hundreds of yards from the position. Here he was shot through the thigh, as were also two more men. Captain Forrest made endeavours to get to him, but was unsuccessful, owing to the heavy firing. Later on, however, Privates Luetchford and Vincent (both “D” Squadron) made another plucky attempt to get Theobald into a safe place, but although they managed to get to him, could do no more, as any attempt was met with a heavy fire. They all had to lie there for several hours until late in the afternoon, when an ambulance was allowed to go out. Both these men’s names were forwarded to the General. Firing kept up all the afternoon along the whole front line, and later on “D” Squadron was sent up the donga to the Middelfontein Farm, which lay close under the kopjes, but no good could be effected. We got no food or blankets till 11:00 p.m., as we all bivouacked on the ground we held, and the carts had been ordered to remain behind until 8:30 p.m.’

Luetchford saw further service in India from 5 April 1902 to 10 March 1903, before transferring to the Army Reserve on 13 March 1903, and was discharged on 19 May 1907, after 12 years’ service.

Sold with copied record of service.