Dress Miniature V.C. Groups from the Collection of the Late David Harvey

The mounted group of six miniature dress medals attributed to Major A. C. Doxat, V.C., 3rd Imperial Yeomanry and King’s Royal Rifle Corps, comprising: Victoria Cross; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, S.A. 1901; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals; Coronation 1937, mounted as worn (but reverse pin for wearing removed), good very fine (6) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Dress Miniature V.C. Groups from the Collection of the Late David Harvey.

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Ex Dix Noonan Webb, 25 February 1999 (Lot 358); formerly sold with the full-sized awards by Sotheby’s in June 1971; full-sized awards sold again by Buckland Dix & Wood in May 1992.

Alexis Charles Doxat was born at Surbiton, Surrey in April 1867 and was educated at Norwich Grammar School and Philberd's, Maidenhead. Subsequently appointed a Captain in the Dalston Militia under Colonel Somerset, C.B., and Lieutenant-Colonel Gowles, M.P., he successfully passed the examinations of the Auxiliary School of Instruction and the Hythe Musketry School.

On the outbreak of the Boer War he left the Stock Exchange, of which he was a member, and proceeded to South Africa with Lord Scarborough's detachment where he served with the 11th (Yorkshire) Company, Imperial Yeomanry. He took part in the advance of Lord Methuen's force from Boshof in May 1900, and that September he joined General Douglas' column as his personal A.D.C., acting chiefly as Reconnaissance Officer. It was in this latter role that he was awarded his V.C., the only such honour bestowed on a member of the Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer War:

‘On the 20 October 1901, near Zeerust, Lieutenant Doxat proceeded with a party of Mounted Infantry to reconnoitre a position held by 100 Boers on a ridge of Kopjes. When within 300 yards of the position, the enemy opened a heavy fire on Lieutenant Doxat’s party, which then retired, leaving one of their number who had lost their horse. Lieutenant Doxat, seeing the dangerous position in which the man was placed, galloped back under a very heavy fire and brought him on his horse to a place of safety’ (London Gazette 15 January 1901 refers).

The Victoria Cross was personally presented to Lieutenant Doxat by His Majesty King Edward VII at Marlborough House on 17 December 1901 and he was present at the first V.C. Garden Party given by H.M. King George V on 26 June 1920, and at the Ceremony at the Cenotaph and the Burial of the Unknown Warrior on 11 November 1920. Major Doxat died in Cambridge in November 1942, aged 75 years.