A scarce Great War D.S.O. group of five awarded to Colonel S. R. A. Hankey, South Irish Horse and Remount Department, late 3rd Dragoon Guards, who was three times mentioned in despatches

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, complete with top bar, obverse centre loose; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. S. R. A. Hankey, 3/Dgn. Gds.) last two clasps contemporary tailor’s copies; 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col. S. R. Hankey. S.Ir.H.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Col. S. R. A. Hankey.) mounted as worn on pin brooch, very fine and better (5) £1,800-£2,200

Provenance: Glendining’s, December 1991.

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1918:

‘For distinguished services in connection with Military Operations in France and Flanders.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 15 June 1916; 11 December 1917; 20 May 1918

Sandford Raymond Alers Hankey was born in 1874, the son of John Alers Hankey of Meadfoot House, Torquay. Educated at Sherborne and abroad, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment on 19 March 1900 and transferred to the 3rd Dragoon Guards on 27 June 1900. Promoted Lieutenant on 10 February 1901, he served with them in South Africa during the Boer War and was present at the operations in the Transvaal, May 1901, June to July 1901; operations in Orange River Colony, February 1901 to 31 May 1902; operations on the Zululand Frontier of Natal in September and October 1901; operations in Cape Colony in February 1901 (Queen’s medal with 5 clasps).

Promoted Captain on 26 January 1910, he retired in 1912 and joined the South Irish Horse, Special Reserve of Officers as a Captain from which he was seconded to the Remount Department on 16 September 1914 following the outbreak of the Great War. He served as Deputy Director of Remounts, 3rd Army in France from 2 August 1915, being promoted Major on 5 February 1916 and Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel on 11 December 1917. For his services during the Great War he was awarded the D.S.O. and mentioned in despatches three times.

He resigned his commission on 12 August 1920 and was granted the rank of Colonel while continuing to serve as District Remount Officer, Southern Command until 1930. He died in 1952.

Sold with copied research including pages from the War Diary of the Remount Department written and signed by Hankey.