Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare ‘Uganda’ D.S.O group of three awarded to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel C. H. G. Sitwell, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, killed in action at Harts Hill, 24 February 1900

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, complete with top bar; East and Central Africa 1897-991 clasp, Uganda 1897-98 (Capt. C. G. H. Sitwell, Uganda Rif.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (Lt. Col. C. H. G. Sitwell, D.S.O., Rl. Dublin Fus.) extremely fine (3) £6000-7000

Claude George Henry Sitwell was born on 18 October 1858. He joined the 85th Foot as a Second Lieutenant from the Militia, 14 September 1878, and served in the Afghan War, 1879-80, with the Kuram Division, Yarmusht Expedition (Medal). He became a Lieutenant, Shropshire Light Infantry, 1 July 1881, and in 1882 served with the Egyptian Expedition, being present at the defence of Alexandria, occupation of Kafr Dowar and surrender of Damietta (Medal and Star). He was promoted to Captain in the Manchester Regiment, 13 July 1886 and Major in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 13 October 1898.  From 11 May 1895 to 10 October 1899, he was employed in the Uganda Protectorate. He commanded the expeditions against the Kitosh, Kabras and Kikelwa tribes, 1895. For the Nandi Expedition, 1895-96, he was mentioned in Despatches. In Uganda, in 1897-98; in February and March 1898, he commanded the operations against the Mwanga, and fought an action near Katonga River, and other engagements. For these services he was mentioned in despatches; was given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel, 4 October 1899, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette, 24 January 1899): "Claude George Henry Sitwell, Major, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. In recognition of services during the recent operations in Uganda".  The D.S.O. was sent to the Foreign Office and thence to H.M. Commissioner in Uganda. Lieutenant Colonel C. G. H. Sitwell's medals, etc, were returned by Sir R. Buller, Lieutenant Colonel C. G. H. Sitwell having been killed at Tugela. The D.S.O., Warrant and Statutes were sent to Miss Blanche Sitwell for Colonel Sitwell's daughter, Miss C. D. C. Sitwell. Colonel Sitwell was killed in action 24 February 1900. 

Sir A Conan Doyle in The Great Boer War, p.216-219 wrote: 

"Brigadier Fitzroy Hart, to whom the assault was entrusted, is in some ways as singular and picturesque a type as has been evolved in the war, a dandy soldier, always the picture of neatness from the top of his helmet to the heels of his well-polished brown boots, he brings to military matters the same precision which he affects in dress. Pedantic in his accuracy, he actually at the battle of Colenso drilled the Irish Brigade for half an hour before leading them into action, and threw out markers under a deadly fire in order that his change from close to extended formation might be academically correct. The heavy loss of the brigade at this action was to some extent ascribed to him, and affected his popularity; but as his men came to know him better—his romantic bravery, his whimsical soldierly humour—their dislike changed into admiration. His personal disregard for danger was notorious and reprehensible. 'Where is General Hart?' asked someone in action. 'I have not seen him, but I know where you will find him. Go ahead of the skirmish line, and you will see him standing on a rock', was the answer. He bore a charmed life.  It was a danger to be near him. 'Whom are you going to?' 'General Hart', said the aide-de-camp. 'Then good-bye!' cried his fellows. A grim humour ran through his nature. It is gravely recorded and widely believed that he lined up a regiment on a hill-top in order to teach them not to shrink from fire. Amid the laughter of his Irishmen, he walked through the open files of his firing line holding a laggard by the ear. This was the man who had put such a spirit into the Irish Brigade that amid that army of valiant men there were none who held such a record. 'Their rushes were the quickest, their rushes were the longest, and they stayed the shortest time under cover', said a shrewd military observer. To Hart and his brigade was given the task of clearing the way to Ladysmith.

The regiments which he took with him on his perilous enterprise were the 1st Inniskilling Fusiliers, the 2nd Dublin Fusiliers, the 1st Connaught Rangers, and the Imperial Light Infantry, the whole forming the famous 5th Brigade. They were already in the extreme British advance, and now, as they moved forwards, the Durham Light Infantry and the 1st Rifle Brigade from Lyttelton's Brigade came up to take their place. The hill to be taken lay on the right, and the soldiers were compelled to pass in single file under a heavy fire for more than a mile until they reached the spot which seemed best for their enterprise. There, short already of sixty of their comrades, they assembled and began a cautious advance upon the lines of trenches and sangars which seamed the brown slope above them.

For a time they were able to keep some cover, and the casualties were comparatively few. But now at last, as the evening sun threw a long shadow from the hills, the leading regiment, the Inniskillings, found themselves at the utmost fringe of boulders with a clear slope between them and the main trench of the enemy. Up there where the shrapnel was spurting and the great lyddite shells crashing they could dimly see a line of bearded faces and the black dots of the slouch hats. With a yell the Inniskillings sprang out, carried with a rush the first trench, and charged desperately onwards for the second one. It was a supremely dashing attack against supremely steady resistance, for among all their gallant deeds the Boers have never fought better than on that February evening. Amid such a smashing shell fire as living mortals have never yet endured they stood doggedly, these hardy men of the veldt, and fired fast and true into the fiery ranks of the Irishmen. The yell of the stormers was answered by the remorseless roar of the Mausers and the deep-chested shouts of the farmers. Up and up surged the infantry, falling, rising, dashing bull-headed at the crackling line of the trench.  But still the bearded faces glared at them over the edge, and still the sheet of lead pelted through their ranks. The regiment staggered, came on, staggered again, was overtaken by supporting companies of the Dublins and the Connaughts, came on, staggered once more, and finally dissolved into shreds, who ran swiftly back for cover, threading their way among their stricken comrades. Never on this earth was there a retreat of which the survivors had less reason to be ashamed. They had held on to the utmost capacity of human endurance. Their colonel, ten officers, and more than half the regiment were lying on the fatal hill. Honour to them, and honour also to the gallant Dutchmen who, rooted in the trenches, had faced the rush and fury of such an onslaught! To-day to them, to-morrow to us; but it is for a soldier to thank the God of battles for worthy foes.

It is one thing, however, to repulse the British soldier, and it is another to rout him. Within a few hundred yards of their horrible ordeal at Magersfontein, the Highlanders re-formed into a military body. So now the Irishmen fell back no farther than the nearest cover, and there held grimly on to the ground which they had won. If you would know the advantage which the defence has over the attack, then do you come and assault this line of tenacious men, now in your hour of victory and exultation, friend Boer! Friend Boer did attempt it, and skilfully too, moving a flanking party to sweep the position with their fire.  But the brigade, though sorely hurt, held them off without difficulty, and was found on the morning of the 24th to be still lying upon the ground which they had won.

Our losses had been very heavy—Colonel Thackeray of the Inniskillings, Colonel Sitwell of the Dublins, three majors, twenty officers, and a total of about 600 out of 1,200 actually engaged. To take such punishment and to remain undemoralized is the supreme test to which troops can be put. Could the loss have been avoided? By following the original line of advance from Monte Christo, perhaps, when we should have turned the enemy's left.  But otherwise no. The hill was in the way, and had to be taken. In the war game you cannot play without a stake. You lose and you pay forfeit, and where the game is fair the best player is he who pays with the best grace. The attack was well prepared, well delivered, and only miscarried on account of the excellence of the defence. We proved once more, what we had proved so often before, that all valour and all discipline will not avail in a frontal attack against brave, cool-headed men armed with quick-firing rifles. "While the Irish Brigade assaulted Railway Hill an attack had been made upon the left, which was probably meant as a demonstration to keep the Boers from reinforcing their comrades rather than as an actual attempt upon their lines. Such as it was, however, it cost the life of at least one brave soldier, for Colonel Thorold of the Welsh Fusiliers was among the fallen. Thorold, Thackeray and Sitwell in one evening. Who can say that British colonels have not given their men a lead?"

Sold with copied record of services; photograph of the recipient and his grave; copy marriage certificate, and other research.