Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Quartermaster and Captain C. McPhail, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, late Farrier Quartermaster Sergeant, Royal Field Artillery who was Mentioned in Despatches for his services during both the Boer War and the Great War

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (48148 S: Sjt: Far: C. McPhail. 79th Bty: R.F.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (48148 S: S: Fr: C. McPhail, 79th Bty: R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (48148 S. Serjt: - Far: C. McPhail. R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (Q.M. & Lieut. C. McPhail. D.C.M. A.V.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Q.M. & Capt. C. McPhail.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (48148 Far. Q.M. Sjt. C. McPhail. R.F.A.) light contact marks overall, therefore very fine (7) £1,400-£1,800

Provenance: Spink April 2012

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901:
‘In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa’

M.I.D. London Gazettes 10 September 1901 (South Africa); 16 January 1918 (Egyptian Expeditionary Force)

Charles McPhail was born in Edinburgh in 1871. He enlisted in the Royal Artillery in Liverpool as a Boy in March 1885 and joined the 52nd Field Battery, Royal Artillery on 15 August 1889. Posted Sergeant Farrier, 79th Battery, Royal Field Artillery in July 1895, he served with the latter in South Africa from 13 November 1899 until 21 October 1902 where he was in charge of Veterinary Hospitals, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the rank Staff Sergeant Farrier, the recommendation bearing the date 29 November 1900.

Proceeding to India, McPhail was posted to 24th Battery on 1 October 1904 and promoted Quarter-Master Sergeant later the same month, before returning to England in April 1905 and receiving his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with gratuity the same year. He was discharged on 21 October 1906 after 21 years and 232 days’ service, finding civil employment as Head Traveller with Carr & Co., Biscuit Manufacturers in Leeds.

With the outbreak of the Great War McPhail was asked to report for duty on 9 August 1914 to serve with the Army Veterinary Corps, Northumbrian Division. Commissioned Temporary Quartermaster and Lieutenant, Royal Army Veterinary Corps on 21 February 1915, he served in the Egyptian Theatre from 3 March 1915 and was the officer in charge of the Base Depot of Veterinary Stores for the supply of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from November 1915 to July 1919. Promoted Honorary Captain on 21 February 1918, he relinquished his commission on 8 January 1920, retaining the rank of Quartermaster & Captain, and subsequently lived in Headingly, Leeds.

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