A Collection of Medals to the Royal Artillery

Pair: Lieutenant-Colonel R. O. Marton, C.M.G., D.S.O., Royal Garrison Artillery, who was twice Mentioned in Despatches

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (Capt: R. O. Marton, D.S.O., 15 Co. S.D. R.G.A.) engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt. R. O. Marton. D.S.O. R.G.A.) engraved naming, light contact marks, very fine (2) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Royal Artillery.

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C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1918:
‘For services rendered in connection with the War.’

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

Richard Oliver Marton was born on 19 August 1872, the son of Colonel G. B. H. Marton, and the Hon. Caroline Gertrude, daughter of the 5th Viscount Ashbrook. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 23 November 1891, and was promoted Captain in December 1899. He served in the South Africa during the Boer War on Special Service from 3 to 19 January 1900; and was then employed with Transport from 20 January to 10 July 1900, and was present at operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including the actions at Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal, May and June 1900, including the actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June); operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, including the action at Reit Vlei, May to September 1901; operations on the Zululand frontier of Natal, September and October 1901; and operations in Orange River Colony, December 1901 to 21 May 1902. For his services in South Africa he was mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901) and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He was invested with his D.S.O. by H.M. the King on 29 October 1901.

Marton was 4th Assistant Superintendent of Experiments, School of Gunnery, from 20 June 1902 to 31 January 1903; 3rd Assistant Superintendent of Experiments, School of Gunnery, from 1 February 1903 to 11 May 1905; 2nd Assistant Superintendent of Experiments, School of Gunnery, from 12 to 31 May 1905; and 1st Assistant Superintendent of Experiments, Experimental Staff, School of Gunnery, from 1 June to 31 December 1905. He later served as Instructor, School of Gunnery, from 1 April 1910 to 31 March 1914, and was promoted Major on 29 May 1912. He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 4 October 1914 (also entitled to a 1914 Star trio), and was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 May 1917. He later served as Superintendent of Experiments, School of Instruction for Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery, Chapperton Down Artillery School, from 10 November 1917, and for his services during the Great War was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 6 July 1918) and was created a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.