The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

A Boer War ‘Spion Kop’ D.C.M. awarded to Private W. Boyd, 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, who was awarded a Second Award Bar for his gallantry whilst serving with the 4th Battalion during the Great War at Ypres in 1915

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (3495 Pte. W. Boyd, 2nd Middlesex Regt.) with later unofficial Second Award Bar on riband, this engraved ‘14th June - 1915’, nearly extremely fine £2,000-£2,400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Provenance: Needes Collection 1911 (when sold alongside the recipient’s I.G.S., Q.S.A., and K.S.A., and obviously before he had received a Second Award Bar); Baldwins, June 1956 (D.C.M. only); Spink, November 1969.

D.C.M. London Gazette 19 April 1901
The recommendation, as recorded in General Sir Redvers Buller’s Despatch of 30 March 1900 (London Gazette 8 February 1901), states: ‘Spion Kop. Conspicuous gallantry in constantly exposing himself, under very heavy fire, in order to obtain a better view of the enemy at whom he was firing.’

D.C.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 16 September 1915:
‘For conspicuous gallantry on 14 June 1915 near Ypres. When several Officers and men of various Regiments were wounded by shell fire, this Non-Commissioned Officer, with two men, voluntarily undertook the task of rescuing them whilst the shells were falling, and eventually succeeded in bringing all into cover and then dressed the wounds. Sergeant Boyd has been twice specially promoted in the present campaign for gallantry and valuable services.’

William Boyd attested for the Middlesex Regiment and served with the 2nd Battalion on the Punjab Frontier in 1897-98, and in South Africa during the Boer War, where he was present wit hthe 2nd Battalion
‘The attack began successfully. A portion of the crest of Spion Kop was seized at 4 o’clock on the morning of 24 January by a force under General Woodgate. But a dense fog made it impossible to trace the entrenchments correctly, and when the fog rolled away the British position was found to be seriously exposed. In the face of the Boer attack, which began at 8 o’clock, it was maintained with great difficult, and an urgent request was sent for reinforcements. As it happened the 2nd Middlesex and the Imperial Light Infantry had already started. The extreme steepness of the hill made the climb difficult, and, in most places, it was necessary to ascend in single file. About midday four companies of the Middlesex had reached the summit, thrusting themselves into the firing line as they arrived, wherever their help seemed to be most needed. Without the aid of the Middlesex the hill must have been lost in disaster. That this was averted was due to the self-sacrificing valour of officers and men. It was round Aloe Knoll, at the eastern end of the crest, that the main fighting of the afternoon centred. When the retirement came at dusk the regiment had suffered heavily, with 4 officers and 38 men killed, and 4 officers and 49 men wounded.’ (The story of the Middlesex Regiment, by C. L. Kingsford refers).

For his gallantry at Spion Kop on 24 January 1900 Boyd was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal- one of three D.C.M.s awarded to the Regiment for this action. He subsequently served with the 4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 11 November 1914 (entitled to a 1914 Star trio), and received a Second Award Bar to his D.C.M. for his gallantry at Ypres in June 1915.