The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

A Boer War D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Captain J. F. Waterlow, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) and City of London Imperial Volunteers, later Colonel, Border Regiment

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (Capt. J. F. Waterlow. C.I.V.); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col. J. F. Waterlow, D.S.O. Bord. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Col. J. F. Waterlow.); Coronation 1902, silver; Territorial Decoration, E.VII.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1909, with integral top riband bar, mounted court-style as worn and housed, together with the recipient’s related miniature award, in a fitted case of issue; together with the recipient’s City of London Imperial Volunteers for South Africa 1899-1900 Medallion, 76mm, bronze, the obverse featuring a seated female figure with sword, presenting the freedom of the city to a uniformed man in the City Imperial Volunteers, the reverse featuring the radiant sun of the British Empire shining behind a hill which is surmounted by a tall staff flying the Union Flag and C.I.V. Flag, guarded by two guns, the edge inscribed in large capitals ‘J. F. Waterlow. Captn. C.I.V.’, in fitted and embossed case of issue, generally very fine and better (8) £3,000-£4,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 27 September 1901.

James Francis Waterlow was born in Marylebone, London in 1869, a great grandson of James Waterlow the founder of Waterlow & Sons, the major worldwide engravers of currency, postage stamps, stocks and bond certificates. Educated at Charterhouse School, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant into the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment on 7 December 1889, and was promoted Lieutenant 24 October 1891, and Captain 22 July 1893, being placed in charge of their Mounted Infantry detachment. Employed as a Director of Waterlow Bros. & Layton Ltd. of Birchin Lane and Upper Thames Street, he served with the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Queen’s detachment in South Africa during the Boer War, with the Honorary Army rank of Captain.

As Officer Commanding No. 2 Mounted Infantry Company, City Imperial Volunteers, among Waterlow’s responsibilities in March 1900 was the command of the mounted escort guarding General Cronje and his wife, the Boer General having been placed under his charge following the Battle of Paardeberg. For his services during the Boer War he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901) and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. Following his return to England, Waterlow was reported by the City Press of 9 January 1901 to have been made a Livery Man of the Stationers’ Company in accordance with Resolution of 4 December 1900 and he received his D.S.O. from the King on 28 October 1901.

Waterlow was promoted Major in the volunteers on 27 May 1903 and was awarded the Territorial Decoration. Following the outbreak of the Great War he was advanced Lieutenant-Colonel of the 1/4th (Cumberland and Westmoreland) Battalion, Border Regiment, his medal index card stating ‘Theatre of War first served in: Katshin Hills, Upper Burma, Jan 1915’. Remaining in India and Burma throughout the war, he found time to marry Rose Marie Lorentz on 24 February 1916 in Rangoon, and was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 26 November 1918). He died in London on 19 November 1942.