Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The important ‘Nyasaland 1915’ campaign group of seven awarded to Major C. ‘Champagne Charlie’ Thorburn, late Royal Scots Fusiliers, who commanded the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve from August 1914, including on raids into German East Africa and on Lake Nyasa. Mentioned in Despatches multiple times, including for service during the Chilembwe Rebellion of 1915, he was a larger than life character - ‘known from Johannesburg to Nairobi as Champagne Charlie, Nyasaland’s tobacco king; and everyone loved him’

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut: C. Thorburn, R. Scots Fus:); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut: C. Thorburn. Rl: Scots Fus:); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Nyasaland 1915 (Capt: C. Thorburn. Depot Coy. 1/K.A.R.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. C. Thorburn. Nyasaland F.F.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major C. Thorburn.); France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, 5th Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamels, last with enamel damage, otherwise generally fine or better (7) £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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M.I.D. London Gazette 3 August 1916, 25 September 1917 and 5 June 1919.

Charles Thorburn was born at Kerfield in 1881, and was the twin the son of Sir Walter Thorburn, M.P. of Peebleshire. He ‘took up a military career on completing his education at Blairlodge. He served throughout the South African War with the Royal Scots Fusiliers, in which he held the rank of captain, and took part in the relief of Mafeking. At the end of the Boer War he took up business pursuits in Central Africa. On the outbreak of the Great War his offer of service was accepted, and for some time he was in charge of defences with the King’s African Rifles. When the war ended he took up residence in Peebles, holding the rank of major on the Retired List of Officers.... In his youth Major Thorburn was a keen sportsman. He played rugby for Edinburgh Wanderers and Selkirk, and was secretary and a playing member of Peebles County Cricket Club. He engaged in big game hunting while in India and Africa, and presented of his trophies to the Peebles Museum.’ (Obituary refers)

Thorburn was appointed to the command of the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve, 4 August 1914, and carried out operations with them in German East Africa, and Lake Nyasa:

‘The Adventure under her captain, Volunteer Leonard John Boardman, accompanied by Major Thorburn of the N.V.R., sailed into Spinxhaven in October [1914] to find it deserted. They took the opportunity to destroy a German workshop there and to inflict further damage to the Wissman [German Lake Steamer]. Sadly, shortly after this, on the night of 28-29 October the Adventure hit a rock at Muluka on the Portuguese East African coast, was wrecked, abandoned and sank....

The N.V.R. unit sent to Karonga has been reported of consisting of either 53 or 56 Volunteers including two officers. The officers might have been Thorburn, J. M. Purves, their transport officer, and/or J. C. Casson, their supply officer, making 55 to 56 in all. Fewer than 100 men of the N.V.R. qualified for the 1914-15 Star and about two thirds of these awards would have been made to those who were engaged in the actions at Karonga and Kasoa...’ (Cinderella’s Soldiers (The Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve) by P. Charlton refers)

Thorburn was mentioned in the despatch of Lieutenant-Colonel G. M. P. Hawthorn, dated Zomba 11 October 1915: ‘Lieutenant, Temporary Captain C. Thorburn, Reserve of Officers. Has commanded the base and lines of communications from the commencement of the war. He has performed his duties very industriously, and arranged most satisfactorily for transport of troops and supplies from the sea coast to the lake.’

Thorburn’s time, and reputation, in Nyasaland is recalled by R. Tremlett in The Road to Ophir:

“Could you wire my boss in Nyasaland for fare? I’m sure he will pay it.”

“Yes, I’ll do that. Who is he?”

When I mentioned the name the Consul laughed.

“Champagne Charlie Thorburn? Well, you’ll surely have a time with him! Yes, I’ll wire him right away... How on earth did you get in touch with Champagne Charlie?

“It was on the ship from England to South Africa,” I replied. “I had just left Cambourne School of Mines, in Cornwall, where I had done a course in assaying and mine surveying; and was on the way to my father, who had fixed a mining job for me. But I preferred to go with Thorburn to Nyasaland, and here I am.”

I did not tell him all the details of that momentous trip.... At Southampton, where I had joined the ship, I was told that I should be sharing a cabin with a Major Thorburn; and as soon as we met I realised that our cabin was to be a lively place. He weighed eighteen stones and had the clear blue eyes and rosy complexion of a schoolboy.... Although his luggage was as yet unpacked, a bottle of champagne stood in an ice bucket in the cabin; and the room was filled with friends who had come to say good-bye.

Some years before, one of them told me, Charlie had resigned his commission in the regular army to settle in Nyasaland, then the Cinderella of Central Africa; for the way to it was long and intricate, and transport charges high. In a few years he had risen to create from the jungle vast tobacco and cotton estates; and to make, in prosperous years, ten thousand pounds. He was known from Johannesburg to Nairobi as Champagne Charlie, Nyasaland’s tobacco king; and everyone loved him.

At night I sat in the smoking-room and listened to the tales he told; stories of wild barbarism in Central Africa; of lions and strange native customs; and, in particular, of the carefree life where excitement beckoned from every tropical mountain top....’

During 1915, Thorburn had also been involved in the proceedings of the Chilembwe Commission of Inquiry after the John Chilembwe Rebellion of that year. He was mentioned in the despatch of the Governor of Nyasaland London Gazette 3 August 1916:

‘I have been much in contact with the work of Captain Thorburn. In addition to his duties connected with the Base and Lines of Communication, he has rendered important services as Commanding Officer of the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve, and I was able to mention him specially in connection with the native rising in January, 1915. I feel that I cannot speak too highly of the valuable assistance he has rendered in many directions, and of his cheerfulness and indefatigability at all times.’

Major Thorburn returned to Peebles, and died there in September 1938.

Sold with copied research, including a photographic of image of recipient.