The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards

Three: Second Lieutenant Errol Victor Tatham, 2nd South African Infantry, late 1st Mounted Rifles, who died of multiple wounds at Delville Wood, 18 July 1916

1914-15 Star (Pte., 1st M.R.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (2/Lt.) extremely fine (3)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards.

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M.I.D. London Gazette 1 June 1917 (Haig’s despatch of 9th April)

Errol Victor Tatham was born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, on 29 September 1891, the 2nd son of Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick S. Tatham. He was educated at Merchiston and then at Michaelstone House, Natal, and during 1904-08 he was at Marlborough College, England. Returning to Pietermaritzburg, he studied law and entered his father’s firm of solicitors - Tatham, Wilkes & Co. With the onset of war he attested for the 1st Mounted Rifles (Natal Carbineers) as a Private on 26 August 1914. He was discharged on 23 July 1915 after service in German South West Africa. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd South African Infantry on 20 September 1915 and served in Egypt and France. On 18 July 1916 during the fight for Delville Wood, he was reported wounded and missing, later as killed in action. He was reported to have been buried at the southern edge of the wood but after the war his body could not be found and his name was commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

In the action at Delville Wood, Lieutenant Errol Tatham was prominent in the action, encouraging his men, aiding the wounded and suffering numerous wounds in the process. Colonel Thackeray was later to recommend Tatham for the D.S.O.:

‘Before and after Col. Tanner was wounded this officer was indefatigable in assisting me in every way and fearlessly exposed himself in visiting the detachments of his regiment under heavy fire. He was wounded and is missing since. He left me during the big enemy attack on the 18th in Delville Wood’.

Private Bill Helfrich (a Stretcher Bearer) recalled Tatham’s last moments:

‘At this time an officer, whom I afterwards learnt was Lieut. Tatham appeared on the parapet above us. He had his left arm in a sling, and the shots were raining about him, and I told him to jump down quickly as they were firing at him. He seemed dazed, hesitated and swayed forwards as if he were going to fall ... He sat up and said, “Look at this” waving his broken arm, “the bounders” or some such word to that effect, “are using explosive bullets.” I went over to him and took off his tunic and started to put a tourniquet on his arm. (Tatham’s right arm had been almost shot away, both above and below the elbow.) I then enquired what regiment he belonged to and he told me the 2nd South African Infantry. .... He then said: “Don’t trouble about me, I am finished.” I said: “No, they will amputate your arm and you will be all right again.” He then said: “No, there are other wounds”, and told me to look at his chest. I opened his shirt and found that his right breast had been shot away and he had a bullet wound through the left side of his chest just above the heart. (In addition a finger of his left hand was missing). He then asked: “What would happen if I took off the tourniquet?” I told him he would bleed to death. He then implored me to loosen it. I replied: “No, sir, I could not.” I then gave him a drink and he asked me if I had any morphia, and I told him I was sorry I had not. ... in taking off his wristlet watch, he told me to keep it. This watch I have since handed to Lieut. Tatham’s sister. Just then the casualty whom I had on the stretcher called me, and after attending to him, I returned to the lieutenant and found he had loosened the tourniquet with his teeth, and he was then practically unconscious and murmuring: “Oh, rain, beautiful rain, lovely rain” I raised his head and, within a few minutes, he passed way.’

Sold with a quantity of copied research with narratives concerning 2nd Lieutenant Errol Victor Tatham, 2nd S.A.I. His brother, Acting Sub-Lieutenant William Inglis Tatham, R.N., was killed when the submarine H.3 hit a mine, 15 July 1916. His cousin, Lieutenant Russell Tatham, 2nd S.A.I., was killed in action on 20 July 1916.