Orders, Decorations and Medals

Colonel Sir William Serjeant, K.C.B., K. St. J.

A steel multi-use pocket knife, with two blades, button hook, ferulled spike, etc, all showing an agreeable amount of active service use. The blades stamped "ART" and George Butler & Company (Sheffield). One side of the outer casing ornately engraved. ‘Lieutenant Colonel Serjeant, 5th Rifle Brigade’ £60-80

The career of the Cornishman William Charles Eldon Serjeant was by any standard extraordinary: 2nd Devon (P.O.W.) Rifle Volunteers (1874-1882), called to the Bar (1893), commissioned into the 4th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), served with the Bechuanaland Field Force (1884-1885); came home to England and was commissioned into the 5th Rifle Brigade which he commanded, but then asked by Joseph Chamberlain to return to Rhodesia and to report on the Jameson Raid.

Next served with the Matabeleland Relief Force (second in command of The Cape Boys Corps, 1896); returned to England for five years, then commanded the 5th Rifle Brigade in the South African War (1901-1902). Came home again, recommended (by Winston Churchill) to assist Viscount Haldane in his major reorganisation of the army (knighted 1907); worked with Roger Pocock in establishing the Legion of Frontiersmen, elected its Commandant General. A close friend of the Prince of Wales, Lord Lonsdale and other notables.