Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Colonel H. R. Milvain, 12th Lancers, who received a ‘bullet through his neck, which came out through his jaw’, during the charge of the 12th Lancers at the Battle of Diamond Hill, 11 June 1900. He later served with the 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment during the Irish Rebellion of 1916, and served in France as Horse Master to the Royal Field Artillery. Milvain commanded the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Home Guard during the Second World War

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (Lieut: H. R. Milvain, 12: R: Lancers) impressed naming, edge bruise; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major H. R. Milvain.); Defence Medal, mounted for wear, otherwise generally good very fine (4) £800-£1,200

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

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Henry Roland Milvain was born in London in January 1880. He was the son of Thomas Milvain, Q.C., of Eglingham Hall, Chancellor of the County Palatine of Durham, Recorder of Bradford, and later Judge Advocate General. Milvain’s obituary, which appeared in 9/12 Lancer’s Regimental Journal, gives the following:

‘Roley Milvain joined the 12th Royal Lancers in 1899 from Sandhurst and served in the Regiment during the South African War, when he was badly wounded. As soon as he had recovered, he rejoined the Regiment in India, and subsequently served as Adjutant. He was seconded, in 1907, to become Adjutant of the Northumberland Hussars, and in 1911 he left the 12th Lancers and joined that Regiment. At the start of the 1914 war, he rejoined the 12th Lancers, being posted as Adjutant to the 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment (5th and 12th Lancers) who were stationed, first at Marlborough Barracks Dublin, and afterwards in the Gunner Barracks at Kildare, where he was at the time of the 1916 Irish Rebellion. When the 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment was disbanded after the Rebellion, Roley joined the B.E.F. in France as a horse master to the Royal Field Artillery. He was demobilized early in 1919.

During the 1939-45 war he joined the Home Guard and commanded a Battalion. Roley Milvain was a great foxhunter. Whilst still at Eton, he was master of the Beagles. For the season of 1898, and again in 1910, when he was Adjutant of the Northumberland Hussars, he took over the Mastership of the Percy Foxhounds, hunting hounds himself until 1921, with the exception of the War Years, when his wife hunted hounds for him. In 1921 he retired from the Percy, and formed his private pack of hounds ‘The Milvain’. He hunted these hounds himself, without subscription, until he retired in 1955 at the age of 75.

His was one of the last packs of foxhounds to be hunted without a subscription, in Great Britain. During the forty-five years that Roley hunted hounds, he showed most excellent sport, and there were few better judges of hounds on the flags. He took great interest in racing, and rode and trained many winners. He died on 17th August, 1960, in his 81st year. A very great sportsman who will be sadly missed in the County of Northumberland, where he lived.’

The wound that the obituary refers to, was suffered by Milvain during the charge of the 12th Lancers at the Battle of Diamond Hill, 11 June 1900. He received a ‘bullet through his neck, which came out through his jaw.’

The regiment fought conspicuously at Diamond Hill, where they charged to save the guns of “Q” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. It was ‘in this action that the aristocratic and gallant Lord Airlie, commanding the 12th Lancers, was killed just after leading his men in a boot-to-boot charge. The Times History recorded that his last words were an order: “Troops about wheel!” Churchill reported the order as “Files about!” but according to Conan Doyle his last words were addressed to a cursing sergeant: “Pray moderate your language.” (The Great Boer War by B. Farwell refers)

Of the 60 men that Lord Airlie led to clear the guns, one other officer apart from himself was killed, one was captured, and Milvain and six other ranks were wounded. He was presented with his Q.S.A. by the King, 29 July 1901. Having survived the Great War, Milvain commanded the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Home Guard until their stand down in December 1944.

M.I.D. Unconfirmed.

Sold with copied research, and several photographic images of recipient in uniform.