A very rare Mafeking group of three to Captain the Hon. Douglas Henry Marsham, British South Africa Police, late Bedford Regiment, the first officer killed during the epic Defence of Mafeking

BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY MEDAL 1890-97, reverse Matabeleland 1893 (Lieut. Honble., 4th Bedfd. Regt.); QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Mafeking (Capt. Hon., B. S. A. Police), officially engraved naming; BADEN-POWELL MEMORIAL MEDALLION 1899-1900, bronze, 70mm diameter, edge engraved (Captain Hon. D. Marsham. British South Africa Police. Killed Mafeking 31 Oct. 1899. Col. Robert Baden-Powell 1902), good very fine or better (3)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The AA Upfill-Brown Collection.

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Captain the Hon. Douglas Henry Marsham, the third son of Earl Romney, was born in 1871 and educated at Charterhouse. Before joining the Bedfordshire Regiment, he served for some time in the Bechuanaland Border Police, prior to the existence of the B.S.A. Company's own Police. The principal duty of the B.B. Police at that time was to act as a frontier guard against Boer aggression in Bechuanaland. He served as Lieutenant in the 4th Bn. Bedford Regimet in the Matabele War of 1893, earning a medal unique to that regiment. He was present at the defence of Mafeking with the [B. S. A. Police and was killed in action on 31 October, 1899, at the attack on Canon Kopje. He was buried in the cemetery at Mafeking and his name is inscribed on the tablet in the War Memorial Cloister erected Charterhouse. Colonel Baden-Powell mentioned him in his despatch dated 18 May, 1900, published in the London Gazette, 8 February, 1901.

Canon Kopje

On the last day of October, 1899, Piet Cronje, a son of the General, led an attack on Canon Kopje, the southern outpost held by Colonel Walford and 45 men of the B.S.A. Police. This position was recognized as of the most vital importance in the defence of Mafeking, and if captured a Boer gun would have Mafeking entirely at its mercy. Recognized as such, it had been severely and constantly shelled by the enemy since the commencement of the siege. It was after one of these severe bombardments that a large number of dismounted burghers were to be seen advancing through the long grass. Instantly the parapets of the trenches were manned, and without cover the B.S.A. Police, with the assistance of two Maxims, opened fire on the enemy. Time after time the Boers came within charging distance, and time after time they were repulsed by our men. Eventually the advancing Boer forces wavered, then halted and finally fled towards their horses which were judiciously located in the rear, whilst our garrison continued their fusilade on the retreating Boers. During this action Capt. the Hon. D. Marsham and Capt. Charles A. K. Pechell with two Sergeants and two troopers were killed, and five men were wounded. Captain Marsham was struck by a rifle bullet in turning to render some assistance to a wounded comrade. As he attempted to do this a second bullet passed through his chest, and a moment later he was dead, just as a third bullet passed through his shoulder. It was as fine a death as any soldier could perhaps have chosen, and it had the crowning mercy of being instantaneous. Of the Boer force it is estimated that their loss was far greater than our own and it included Piet Cronje who gallantly led the assault. A pathetic funeral followed, the honoured dead being wrapped in the Union Jack, and buried by the grim light of a lantern. There was no Dead March, nor were any volleys fired, but the dumb grief of the communiry told its own tale of mourning.