Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Boer War D.S.O., M.V.O. group of eight awarded to Major R. F. S. Grant, Rifle Brigade, who was severely wounded in February 1915

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 4th Class breast badge, the reverse officially numbered ‘806’; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, Orange Free State (Lieut. R. F. S. Grant, Rifle Bde.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. R. F. S. Grant, D.S.O., Rifle Bde.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Capt. R. F. S. Grant, D.S.O., M.V.O., Rif. Bde.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak palm (Major R. F. S. Grant); Union of South Africa 1910, unnamed as issued, solder repair to D.S.O. suspension loop and enamelled wreaths slightly chipped, and the third with edge bruising, otherwise very fine and better (8) £3500-4000

D.S.O. London Gazette 27 September 1901:

‘In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.’

M.V.O. London Gazette 17 January 1911:

‘On the occasion of the visit of Field Marshal His Royal Highness The Duke of Connaught to South Africa, to represent His Majesty at the opening of the first Parliament of the Union of South Africa.’

Robert Francis Sidney Grant was born in September 1877, the son of Sir Charles Grant, K.C.S.I., and was educated at Eton and New College, Oxford. Commissioned in the Rifle Brigade direct from the 1st (Volunteer) Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, in July 1898, he went on to serve with distinction in 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade in South Africa, where he was advanced to Lieutenant in April 1900 and served as Adjutant from December 1901 to January 1902.

Present in the relief of Ladysmith operations, the actions of Colenso, the Tugela Heights, Pieter’s Hill and Laing’s Nek, and in other operations in Cape Colony and the Transvaal, and onetime as a member of Colonel Colville’s staff, who was a Column Commander, he qualified for the Queen’s Medal & 6 clasps and King’s Medal & 2 clasps), was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901 refers), and awarded the D.S.O., which insignia he received from the King in December 1902.

Having then been advanced to Captain and served as an A.D.C. to General Officers in Western and North-West Commands, he accompanied H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught on the occasion of his visit to South Africa for the opening of the first Parliament in that country, gaining appointment as M.V.O. (4th Class) and the Union of South Africa Medal, surely a unique award to a serving Rifle Brigade officer.

On returning to England, Grant passed through Staff College, and while there whipped-in to the Drag Hounds. He also won the Staff College Point-to-Point, and, with the same horse, “Peacock”, won the Jorrock’s Cup three years running.

Advanced to Major shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he served as Brigade-Major to 5th Infantry Brigade, was severely wounded in February 1915 and twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 17 February and 22 June 1915 refer). Grant, however, never fully recovered from his wounds and was practically confined to a chair for the rest of his life, and he died at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton, in August 1927, aged 49 years.

Sold with a copy of Before Port Arthur in a Destroyer (John Murray, London, 1907), being the personal diary of a Japanese Naval Officer ‘translated from the Spanish edition by Captain R. Grant, D.S.O., Rifle Brigade’, together with research.