A Collection of Medals for the Boer Wars

A fine Boer War D.S.O. group of three awarded to Colonel F. R. Twemlow, North Staffordshire Regiment, who commanded the 4th Battalion in South Africa and later at home - and following the outbreak of the Great War, raised the 3/6th Territorial Battalion

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lt. Col. F. R. Twemlow, D.S.O., N. Staff: R.) engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 Lt. Col. F. R. Twemlow. D.S.O. N. Staff. R.) engraved naming, mounted ‘cavalry style’, and housed in a Spink, London, red leather case, about extremely fine (3) £1,600-£2,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals for the Boer Wars.

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Spink Numismatic Circular, January 1983.

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

Francis Randle Twemlow was was born at Smallwood, Cheshire, on 20 December 1852, the son of the Reverend Francis Cradock Twemlow of Peatswood, Staffordshire, and was educated at Winchester and Christ Church, Oxford. Joining the Militia on 8 August 1874, he served in South Africa during the Boer War from March 1900 to May 1902 - including as Commandant, Fraserburg District, from December 1900 to August 1901, and as Officer Commanding, 4th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, from August 1901 to February 1902 (in the absence of Colonel Mirehouse, C.M.G., on sick leave). For his services in South Africa he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901), and was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. Twemlow was invested with his insignia by H.M. the King on 24 October 1902.

Twemlow commanded the 4th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, from 13 December 1905 to 29 August 1908 and was promoted Honorary Colonel on 14 December 1906. Following the outbreak of the Great War he was commissioned to raise a new Territorial Battalion (3/6th North Staffordshire Regiment) on 4 April 1915, and was gazetted to the Territorial Force Reserve on 14 December 1915.



Sold with two original letters sent to the recipient from Field Marshal Lord Roberts, V.C., K.G. &c..

The first hand written, dated Sefton House, Sefton Park, Liverpool, 30 January 1906, and reading:
‘Dear Colonel Twemlow,
I will, with pleasure, present you at the Levée on the 20th instant.
Believe me, yours very truly,
Roberts’
With original envelope addressed to ‘Colonel Twemlow, D.S.O., Peatswood, Market Drayton’

The second typed, dated Englemere, Ascot, Berkshire, 5 October 1914, and reading:
‘Dear Colonel Twemlow,
Please accept my best thanks for your handsome gift for the use of the Cavalry Reserve Regiments.
I hope you may feel rewarded for your generosity by the knowledge that you are facilitating the training of the reinforcements which are needed to support our gallant soldiers at the seat of war.
I am, yours very truly,
Roberts, F.M.’