A rare Boer War D.S.O. group of six awarded to Major H. V. Gorle, Army Service Corps, the officer charged with overseeing transport and supplies during the siege of Kimberley

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Defence of Kimberley, Orange Free State (Capt. H. V. Gorle, D.S.O., A.S.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt. H. V. Gorle, D.S.O., A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major H.V. Gorle); Mayor of Kimberley’s Star 1899-1900, reverse hallmark letter ‘a’, complete with upper wearing brooch, enamel wreaths on the first slightly chipped in places, otherwise generally very fine or better (6) £3000-3500

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

‘In recognition of service during the operations in South Africa.’

Harry Vaughan Gorle was born at Poughill, Cornwall, in September 1868, the third son of Captain John Gorle, late of the 28th Regiment. Educated privately, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant, via the Militia, in September 1893, and joined the Army Service Corps in the following month.

Advanced to Captain in April 1898, Gorle witnessed active service in South Africa, initially as D.A.A.G. in the defence of Kimberley from October 1899 to February 1900, where he had charge of arrangements for all supplies and transport for the 5000-strong garrison. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 6 May 1900 refers).

Subsequently employed in operations in the Orange River Colony from May until November 1900, and again in the period March to May 1902, he served in the interim in Cape Colony, gaining another “mention” (London Gazette 10 September 1901 refers), and the D.S.O., which latter insignia was presented to him by the Officer Commanding Troops at Kronstadt in September 1902.

Advanced to Major in February 1905, Gorle was placed on the Retired List in June 1908, but he was recalled in the Great War and witnessed further active service in the Macedonia theatre of war from August 1916 until June 1918, gaining another “mention” (London Gazette 11 June 1918 refers).

His son by his first marriage, Lieutenant Robert Vaughan Gorle, Royal Field Artillery, was awarded the V.C for great courage at Ledeghem in October 1918, when he fired his gun over open sights under direct machine-gun fire from a range of just 500 or 600 yards ‘ his disregard of personal safety and dash were a magnificent example to the wavering line’ (London Gazette 14 December 1918 refers).