The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

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 ‘C. H. W. Wilson, Lieut. C.I.V.’, lacking case of issue, good very fine £160-£200

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.

Charles Henry Wellesley Wilson, later 2nd Baron Nunburnholme, was born in 1875, the eldest son of C. H. Wilson, 1st Baron Nunburnholme, sometime M.P. for Hull and the owner of a shipping line. He was educated at Eton College and commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment on 2 December 1893. Promoted Captain on 4 March 1896, he served in South Africa during the Boer War as an Honorary Lieutenant in No. 1 Company, Mounted Infantry, City Imperial Volunteers, under Captain Waterlow, his father having earlier offered the free use of a ship to take a contingent of City Imperial Volunteers to South Africa. He was present at the operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including the actions at Karee Siding, Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; at the operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900 including the actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Diamond Hill (11 June); at the operations in the Transvaal west of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900, including the actions at Zillats Nek and Elands River (4 to 16 August); and the operations in Orange River Colony, July 1900. For his services in South Africa he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901), created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, and awarded the Q.S.A. with four clasps.

An extract from a letter from Wilson was printed in the City Press, 30 March 1900, regarding an escape from being captured by Boers in hospital. The same publication on 13 February 1901 reported on his marriage to Lady Marjorie Carington, the eldest daughter of Earl Carrington.

Following the Boer War, Wilson became Sheriff of Hull, 1900-01 and continued serving in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, retiring with the rank of Major in 1908. He followed his father in becoming M.P. for Hull in 1906 and succeeded him as 2nd Lord Nunburnholme in 1910. During the Great War, Nunburnholme was active in raising many Territorial and New Army units including the Hull ‘Commercial’, ‘Tradesmen’ and Sportsmen’ Pals Battalions. He died in August 1924.