Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War D.S.O. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel S. S. Binny, 19th Hussars, killed at Ypres in March 1916, whist in command of the 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut. S. S. Binny, 19/Hrs.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. & Adjt. S. S. Binny. D.S.O. 19/Hus.); 1914 Star (Major S. S. Binny. D.S.O. 19/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt: Col: S. S. Binny) the first three mounted ‘cavalry’ style as worn, the first with some chips to green enamel wreath, otherwise nearly extremely fine (6) £4000-5000

D.S.O. London Gazette 26 June 1902: ‘In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 15 November 1901, and 1 January 1916.

Steuart Scott Binny was born at Sydney, New South Wales, on 1 July 1871, only son of John Binny, of Sydney. He was educated at Haileybury College and in Germany. He was a very keen cricketer, a member of the M.C.C. and Free Foresters, and a very good shot. He was gazetted to the 19th Hussars on 2 June 1894, and served with distinction throughout the South African War, including operations in Natal in 1899, and actions at Reitfontein, Lombard’s Kop, and Defence of Ladysmith; also operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony.

In a letter home to an ‘old friend’, since married, he wrote from Ladysmith: ‘My dear Mrs Blunt... I don’t talk much about the siege as I am trying to forget it, and look upon it as a bad dream. But as a special favor I will give you a few details. The first will be a little advice! If you want to be besieged, don’t chose a town in a hole, with hills all around, where Boers can shell you at leisure. Also send all your cavalry away before it begins for, tho’ their horses may come in very useful afterwards in the shape of soup and sausages, it is very hard to find a place where they are out of sight from N., S., E. and W. Make up your mind that you prefer always to sleep in your boots, and clothes...’

‘Binny particularly distinguished himself in an action near Blauwbank in the Blood River Valley, north-eastern Transvaal, on 29 July 1901, being awarded the D.S.O.’ In his despatch of 8 August 1901, Lord Kitchener wrote: ‘On 29th July General Kitchener was able to report from Blauwbank the gratifying news of a very successful engagement, in which the 19th Hussars, after a long chase, had recaptured one of the two pom-poms taken from the Victorians on 11th June. The 18th Hussars, who followed the 19th in support, were also able to come up with the enemy and assist in the capture of 32 prisoners and 20 waggons’.

He was Adjutant of his regiment from 1901 to 1904, and of the East Kent Yeomanry, 1905-08, and as a Major on the Staff at Sandhurst from 1910 to March 1914, when he retired from the Army. On the outbreak of war he was appointed Railway Transport Offcier, and later promoted D.A. Director of Railway Transports. He was appointed to command the 10th (Service) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, in February 1916 and was killed instantaneously in action near Ypres, on 3 March 1916, by the bursting of a shell in his dug-out. He is buried at Shoilbank, near Zillebeke. Sold with transcripts of two interesting letters written by Binny from Ladysmith, dated 11 January and 10 March 1900, giving good detail of life under siege and the action at Lombards Kop.