A Collection of Medals to the Devonshire Regiment

A Boer War ‘Colenso’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant G. Robins, 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, awarded for the ‘Babtie V.C. action’, carrying wounded under fire

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (3059 Cpl. 2nd Devon Regt.); India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (3059 Lce. Corpl., 1st Bn. Devon Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901 (3059 Sgt., Devon Regt.) contact marks, nearly very fine and better (3) £1800-2200

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

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D.C.M. London Gazette 19 April 1901. ‘Conspicuous gallantry in carrying wounded under fire’.

George Robins was born in Winkleigh, Devonshire. A Groom by occupation and a member of the 4th Battalion Devonshire Regiment (Militia), he enlisted into the Devonshire Regiment on 8 August 1890, aged 20 years, 9 months. With the 1st Battalion he served in Egypt, January 1891-December 1892 and India, December 1892-February 1898, seeing active service on the N.W. Frontier. He was transferred to the Army Reserve in February 1898. Recalled in October 1899 and posted to the 2nd Battalion, he served in South Africa, October 1899-August 1902. Promoted to Corporal on 13 June 1900 and Sergeant on 16 May 1901, he was discharged on completion of his first period of limited engagement on 7 August 1902.

His service in South Africa saw the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment heavily involved in the battle of Colenso, 15 December 1899. George Robins was awarded the D.C.M. for the battle as one of the stretcher bearers of the battalion. The War Diary for the battalion states, ‘.... I also bring to your notice the gallant manner in which a Major of the R.A.M.C. crossed the worst position of the fire swept ground at least six times to bring in wounded, on one occasion the stretcher was shot out of his hands by shrapnel, he was accompanied by stretcher bearers of this battalion ....’ The above officer was Major William Babtie, R.A.M.C. who was awarded the V.C. for this action. The battalion lost 14 killed, 59 wounded and 32 prisoners on that day. The D.C.M. was one of 16 awarded to the battalion for the Second Boer War. Sold with a quantity of copied research including the recipient’s service papers.