The Massie Collection of Medals to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Five: Brigadier-General D. J. Glasfurd, Commanding 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, late Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, who died of wounds in November 1916

Coronation 1911; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Modder River, Paardeberg, Transvaal (Capt. & Adj., A. & S. Highrs.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, Jubaland, Somaliland 1902-04 (Capt., A. & S. Hdrs.) high relief bust; 1914-15 Star (Major, 1 Div. H’Q A.I.F.); British War Medal ( T-Brig-Gen., A.I.F.) the first three mounted Cavalry style together with related mounted set of three miniatures, good very fine or better (8) £700-900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Massie Collection of Medals to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

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Duncan John Glasfurd was the second son of Major-General C. L. R. Glasfurd, Bombay Staff Corps. He was born on 23 November 1873, educated at Edinburgh, and obtained his commission in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, from Sandhurst, in 1893. He served in South Africa as Adjutant of the 1st battalion and was wounded twice, slightly at Paardeberg on 21 February 1900 and severely at Rustenburg on 26 October 1900. In 1901 he served in Jubaland against the Ogaden Somalis (medal and clasp), and in Somaliland 1902-04, when he commanded the 4th Somaliland Camel Corps and was afterwards employed as a special service officer under the Director of Supply and Transport (Mentioned in despatches London Gazette 2 September 1904, clasp). Graduating at the Straff College in 1909, he served in various staff appointments, and in Australia as Director of Military Training, Commonwealth Forces, for four years before the war.

On the outbreak of the war he accompanied the 1st Australian Division on the General Staff, and was present during the whole of the operations in Gallipoli, being promoted to a Brevet Lieutenant-Colonelcy. From General Staff Officer 1st Grade, he was promoted in early 1916 to the command of the 12th Brigade of Australian Infantry in France. He was slightly wounded in June 1916 but remained at duty. On 12 November 1916, Brigadier-General Glasfurd was wounded by a shell in the front trenches, and died the same night. He is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbe, Somme, France. A fellow officer wrote: ‘I have never known anyone in whom the sense of duty was stronger. Ill or well, tired or fresh, if the task was allotted to him, that task was fulfilled, no matter what cost to himself. I cannot say more than if ever there was a hero, Duncan Glasfurd was one.’

The two Great War medals are accompanied by an official slip which states: ‘The Victory Medal will be forwarded as soon as it is issued from the War Office.’ The 1914-15 Star and British War Medal were issued by the Australian authorities and it is possible that the Victory Medal was never received.