Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A very rare Great War East Africa operations D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private H. Cairnduff, South African Rifles, late Transvaal Scottish

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (18 Rfmn. H. Cairnduff, 1/S. Afr. Rif.); 1914-15 Star (Pte. H. Cairnduff, 8th Infantry); British War Medal 1914-20 (Sjt. H. Cairnduff, 4th S.A.I.); Victory Medal 1914-19, M.I.D. oakleaf (Pte. H. Cairnduff, 1st S.A.R.), contact marks, generally very fine (4) £1200-1400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals The Property of a Gentleman.

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One of just eight D.C.Ms awarded to the South African Rifles in the Great War.

D.C.M. London Gazette 25 November 1916:

‘For gallantry in action. When his troop was ordered to retire from a position enfiladed by machine-gun fire, he returned and brought in two wounded men.’

Hugh Cairnduff was born at Barrhead, Scotland in 1893 and onetime served in the 6th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Territorial Force), prior to enlisting in the 2nd Battalion, Transvaal Scottish, in which unit he served in German West Africa from September 1914 until August 1915. Transferring to the 1st South African Rifles in the latter month, he went on to witness further active service in Nyasaland, East Africa until discharged medically unfit in August 1917, in which theatre of war he won his D.C.M., in addition to being mentioned in despatches by Brigadier-General E. Northey (London Gazette 25 September 1917 refers); he was awarded the Silver War Badge and the King’s Certificate (No. 2251).

Following a period of recuperation, Cairnduff re-enlisted in the 1st South African Infantry Brigade in May 1918 and briefly held the rank of acting Sergeant while employed in the U.K. during the period August to November 1918. Latterly employed out in France, he was finally discharged in August 1919; sold with a file of research.