Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War D.C.M. group of four to Captain H. W. Wilson, East Yorkshire Regiment, late Yorkshire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (4157 Serjt., 1st York. Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (4157 Sgt., Yorkshire Regt.); King’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps (4157 Sjt.-Inst.-Musky., York. Regt.); Army L.S.& G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (4157 C. Sjt., York. Regt.) contact marks, nearly very fine and better (4) £1500-2000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards).

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D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901.

M.I.D. London Gazette 10 September 1901.

Humphrey Worthington Wilson was born on 19 March 1876, the son of James and Elizabeth Wilson of Carlow, Ireland. He enlisted as a Private in the Yorkshire Regiment on 1 June 1893 and was posted to and joined the 1st Battalion at Jersey on 7 June. With them he served in Gibraltar, January 1898-March 1899 before proceeding to service in South Africa, 22 September 1899-6 October 1902. On the outbreak of the Boer War he joined the Yorkshire Regiment section of the 2nd Battalion Mounted Infantry on its formation as a Sergeant. He took part in the Relief of Kimberley, including the action at Klip Drift, the battles of Paardeberg and Driefontein, the Sannah’s Post engagement, operations near Thabanchu, actions at Hont’s Nek and Welkom Kopjes, the battle of Diamond Hill, the pusuit of De Wet, the relief of Elands River and operations in the western Transvaal, October 1900-July 1901, including the action at Nooitgedacht. For his distinguished service with the 2nd Battalion Mounted Infantry he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.C.M.

Promoted to Colour-Sergeant in April 1903, he was posted to the 5th Battalion and appointed Acting Sergeant-Major on 12 October 1912, having been awarded the Army L.S.& G.C. with a gratuity in April that year. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Yorkshire Regiment on 8 April 1915 and promoted to Lieutenant on 10 June 1915. He attained the rank of Temporary Captain, attached to the 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment in September 1915. Captain Wilson was killed in action whilst gallantly leading his men in a charge against German positions on 4 October 1915. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial. Sold with copied service papers and other research.