Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Regimental Sports Medallion and Royal Tournament Medallion.

A small Southern Counties Cross Country Association bronze medal, the reverse engraved ‘Comrades Relay Race, 3rd. Team Home, “B” Coy., 52nd. Hants, Captn. E. H. Savill, Canterbury, 12-12-17’, in embossed Vaughtons, Birmingham, fitted case; together with a Royal Tournament Prize Medal, silver, with enamelled detailing, the obverse depicting a Crown above an Anchor and inscribed ‘R.T.’, the reverse inscribed ‘12 Pr. F.G. Olympia 1908’, with small loop suspension, in J. Daffern & Co., Hatton Garden, case, generally very fine (2) £80-£100

Sir Eric Humphrey Savill, K.C.V.O., C.B.E., M.C., a Trainee Chartered Surveyor from Chelsea, London, was educated at Malvern College and Magdalene College, Cambridge. He was commissioned into the Devonshire Regiment for service during the Great War and served on the Western Front with the 2nd and 8th Battalions. Wounded on the Somme, at High Wood, on 20 July 1916, he was lying in no-man’s land when rescued by Private T. W. H. Veale, during an act of conspicuous bravery, for which Veale was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross. Post war, he graduated in 1920 and joined his father's company, Savills, where he became a partner in 1926. He became Deputy Surveyor at Windsor Great Park in 1930, managing an extensive and varied estate. Promoted Deputy Ranger in 1937, and Director of Forestry to the Crown Estate in 1958, he retired in 1970. The Savill Gardens at Windsor became his living memorial. They were so named on command of H.M. King George VI in 1951. A founder of the Ministry of Transport's Landscape Advisory Committee, of which he was Chairman from 1962-9, he was closely involved with the Royal Horticultural Society, receiving the Victoria Medal of Honour in 1955 and a gold Veitch memorial medal in 1963. He died in Windsor in 1980.

V.C. London Gazette, 9 September 1916.

10799 Pte. Theodore William Henry Veale, Devonshire Regiment

‘For most conspicuous bravery. Hearing that a wounded officer was lying out in, front, Private. Veale went out in search, and found him lying amidst growing corn within fifty yards of the enemy. He dragged the officer to a shell hole, returned for water and took it out. Finding he could not single handed carry in the officer, he returned for assistance, and took out two volunteers. One of the party was killed when carrying the officer, and heavy fire necessitated leaving the officer in a shell hole. At dusk Private Veale went out again with volunteers to bring in the officer. Whilst doing this an enemy patrol was observed approaching. Private Veale at once went back and procured a Lewis gun, and with the fire of the gun he covered the party, and the officer was finally carried to safety. The courage and determination displayed was of the highest order.’

The Royal Tournament medallion was awarded for the Royal Navy Field Gun Tournament held at the Royal Tournament at Olympia, which used a 12 pounder Field Gun.