A scarce Great War M.C. group of five awarded to Lieutenant Colonel R. D. Gard’ner, Seaforth Highlanders and Nigeria Regiment, who was wounded and taken prisoner of war at Ngwembe, German East Africa, 24-25 January 1917. His award being for gallantry whilst a prisoner of war, escaping or attempting to escape, Gard’ner returned to command the 4th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders in France, October - November 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse engraved ‘Capt. (Temp. Major) R. D. Gard’ner Seaforth Highlanders and Nigeria Regt. W.A.F.F.’; 1914-15 Star (Capt: R. D. Gard’ner Sea: Highrs); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. R. D. Gard’ner.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Richard D. Gard’ner) mounted as originally worn, ribands a little frayed, generally very fine or better (5) £1,800-£2,200

M.C. London Gazette 30 January 1920 [Gallantry whilst a prisoner of war, escaping or attempting to escape].

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1919 (East Africa) and 8 July 1919.

Richard Dyce Gard’ner was born in August 1883, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Seaforth Highlanders in January 1902. He was attached to the West African Frontier Force, February 1908 - December 1911, and advanced to Captain in March 1913. Gard’ner was posted to the 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders at Agra, India, in April 1914. He was attached to the Indian Volunteers with the outbreak of the Great War, and served as Adjutant, April - July 1915.

Action at Ngwembe, 24-25 January 1917

Gard’ner was posted as a Staff Captain to the W.A.F.F., and served attached to the Nigeria Regiment, August 1915 - June 1918, including as part of the Cameroons Expeditionary Force, 1915-1916. Gard’ner advanced to Major, 18 January 1917, and was prominent in the East Africa Campaign. On 24 January 1917 a column comprising of men from the 3rd Battalion, Nigerian Regiment and one company of the 4th Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel J. Archer left a town called Kibongo, Tanzania, and headed south towards the German positions at Ngwembe:

‘About seven miles from Kibonji the enemy was encountered in some strength. This was about a mile from the water holes, which were the objective of the force. Major Gardner [sic], commanding the advanced guard, was ordered to turn the German right with two companies. About 1100 hours Captain Milne-Home’s company was leading; having deployed and reached within 50 yards of the water holes, it was driven back about 200 yards on to the supporting company. A vigourous fight continued for about an hour, during which two machine guns were captured and the bodies of some 30 Askaris were counted lying between them.

The enemy then put in a heavy counter-attack on Gardner’s force, during which Captains Cooke and Dudley were killed, as were Lieutenants Ewen and Harrison. Gardner himself was wounded and three of his machine guns were captured. The two companies became disorganized and retired through the bush, not emerging until some distance behind Archer’s main body.

In the meantime Archer had wired for reinforcements. 15 Company 4 Battalion was despatched at 1345 hours, not arriving till 1615 hours. By this time Archer had begun to retire and Captain Maxwell, commanding this company, was ordered to withdraw and dig in at a small stream three miles farther back. Some 10 minutes later Maxwell met Sargent with 4 Battalion headquarters, 13 Company, and the Battalion baggage, coming to reinforce Archer’s Battalion from Kibonji. At this time 15 Company’s carriers were in front of the Company. It is supposed they mistook the reinforcements for Askaris, causing them to panic and bolt; they were not seen again that day.

About 1630 hours Sargent met Archer; the latter is reported to have agreed to dig in with 3 Battalion at the stream aforementioned, but this he did not do, continuing his retreat to Kibonji. On this understanding Sargent ordered 15 Company to rejoin 4 Battalion; he then put Major Roberts in command of half 13 and 15 Companies with instructions to cover the retirement of 3 Battalion.

By 1700 hours these six sections were in position and the whole of Archer’s force, except his rearguard of No. 10 Company, had passed through them. At this juncture the enemy counter-attacked, supported by concentrated rifle and machine-gun fire; thereupon the carriers of both battalions stampeded. To add to the confusion and the carrier’s demoralisation a few snipers had worked round both flanks, causing further casualties among them.

No. 10 Company now joined Robert’s detachment. A firing line was built up on each side of the road and continued to hold the position for half an hour when he was forced to retire, as his right flank was enveloped. Captain Barclay was killed at this moment; he had only taken command of 13 Company a few hours earlier. Colour Sergeant Lamb of this company had been killed directly the 1700 hours counter-attack began; this B.N.C.O. had greatly distinguished himself at Gallipoli, where he won the D.C.M. and Bar.....

On Barclay’s death Lieutenant Hilton took command of the two sections of 13 Company, whose behaviour in carrying out the difficult retirement was beyond praise, as the denseness of the bush and the heavy fire to which they were subjected made it most difficult to see their enemy. This retirement, had, however, left 10 Company ‘in the air’, so Sargent in person advanced with 15 and half 16 Companies to their support. It was now 1815 hours and the enemy withdrew, Sargent now learnt that Archer had withdrawn to Kibonji. He thereupon retired to camp himself, leaving 15 and half 16 Companies to hold an outpost position that night, collect what wounded they could and as much baggage as possible, under Roberts.

At 2030 hours Sargent arrived at Kibonji; at 0015 hours the 25th January, Badham with a company from each 1 and 4 Battalions left to recover all loads. His column had a difficult march of seven miles on a pitch-dark night through almost trackless bush. At 0230 hours a tropical deluge made the foothold so greasy that one slipped back half the distance as each step was taken. It was in a great measure due to Company Sergeant Major Morakinyo Ibadan, acting Regimental Sergeant Major 4 Battalion, that the way was found to Robert’s position. For his services he was awarded the D.C.M.

It was estimated that the enemy’s force (commanded by Otto with 3, 23 and 24 Ks and 14 Res. K) in this engagement numbered some 600 rifles and many machine-guns. Their casualties were reported as 12 killed, 14 wounded and 20 missing. British casualties, besides those mentioned, included Lieutenants Pomeroy and Thompson and Sergeants Speak, Rowe and Woolley captured and wounded. Also Lieutenant Jeffries captured with Gardner while helping to the dress the latter’s wound. Forty three other ranks were wounded and eight captured.’ (History of the Royal West African Frontier Force refers)

Gard’ner advanced to Acting Lieutenant Colonel, and served for the last month of the war in command of the 4th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders in the French theatre of war. Colonel retired in April 1921, and the following obituary appeared in Cabar Feidh:

‘Lieutenant Colonel R. D. Gard’ner, formerly of the Seaforth Highlanders, who was recently called from the Reserve of Officers for service with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, collapsed and died while watching a dress rehearsal of the Aldershot Tattoo, on Thursday night, June 1, 1939... To the regret of his wide circle of friends, the death occurred with tragic suddenness...

Colonel Gard’ner served in the Seaforth Highlanders for about 21 years. On the outbreak of the Great War he was in India, and was sent to the Cameroons, and while taking part in the campaign in this former German Colony, he was wounded and taken prisoner. For nearly a year he was reported missing. Released from captivity, he returned to England, and subsequently commanded a battalion in France...

Since taking up residence at Chiddingfold about six years ago, Colonel Gard’ner had taken a keen interest in local affairs. He was chairman of the Chiddingfold branch of the British Legion, in the formation of which he took a leading part.

At the time of the national crisis last autumn, he joined the part of Surrey Legionnaires who offered their services for police duty in Czechoslovakia. He was also a member of the Chiddingfold Parish Council.’

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