Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine C.M.G., C.B.E., Boer War D.S.O. group of nine awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Baron Bentinck, Rifle Brigade

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, subsequently converted for neck wear, with neck riband; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband; Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (Capt. W. G. Bentinck. Rifle Bde.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Major W. G. Bentinck. D.S.O. Rifle Bde.); 1914 Star (Major Baron Bentinck, C.M.G., D.S.O., Rif: Brig.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. Baron Bentinck.); Union of South Africa Medal 1910, unnamed as issued, together with the recipient’s original riband bar, minor enamel damage to wreaths of D.S.O., top lugs removed on both QSA and KSA, light contact marks and traces of lacquer, generally very fine or better (9)
£4000-5000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Members of the Nobility and The Royal Household.

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Provenance: DNW, December 2002.

C.M.G. London Gazette 14 June 1912.

C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

D.S.O. London Gazette 31 October 1902.

Walter Guy Bentinck, 14th Baron Bentinck was born at Alton, Hampshire, on 5 November 1864, the son of the 13th Baron Bentinck, a Baron of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, late 15th Hussars, and his wife Henrietta, and a scion of the Dukes of Portland. He was the sixth cousin twice removed of our present Queen. Educated at Marlborough College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he was commissioned Lieutenant in the Worcestershire Regiment in May 1885 and transferred to the Rifle Brigade three months later. Promoted Captain in November 1894, he served with distinction in the Boer War. He was present at the Relief of Ladysmith, including the action at Colenso; operations of 17-24 January and 5-7 February 1900, and actions at Vaal Krantz; and operations on Tugela Heights, 14-27 February 1900. He was severely wounded at Monte Cristo on the 18th February but was sufficiently recovered to take part in the operations in Natal from March to June 1900, including the action at Laing’s Nek. Thereafter he was principally engaged in the Transvaal and was Assistant District Commissioner of Verseniging in 1900-01. For his services he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 29 July 1902), and appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.

Bentinck remained in South Africa after the war, on special service to the South African Peace Conference in 1902. Promoted Major on 7 November 1902, he served as Resident Magistrate for the District of Wakkerstroon, Transvaal, 1901-07, and as Assistant Imperial Secretary to the High Commissioner in South Africa, 1907-11. He received the Union of South Africa Medal in 1911 and was created a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1912. Although aged 50 he re-enlisted on the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 and served with the the British Expeditionary Force in 1914-15. In 1916 he was posted to the Directorate, Military Intelligence, at the War Office, where he remained until 1918. He was finally placed in charge of No. 2 Infantry Record Office at Preston in 1918-19. In recognition of his war work he was twice Mentioned in Despatches, and made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. Bentinck made two contributions to the Rifle Brigade Chronicle, ‘Sorties from Biarritz’ in 1897, and ‘Some experiences of a Transvaal Resident Magistrate’ in 1904. He was fond of travel, and was a member of the Travellers’ Club in London.

Baron Bentinck succeeded to the Barony upon the death of his father on 22 June 1901. He married Miss Annie Burnett-Ramsey, the daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel William Burnett-Ramsey, Rifle Brigade, on 1 March 1904, with whom he had one son. In 1911 he was authorised by Royal Warrant to bear and use in this country the title of Baron, having established his right to it under a grant of King William of the Netherlands made in 1819. However, in 1932 George V revoked the Royal Warrants that permitted British subjects the right to use foreign titles in this country, to take effect on the death of any living heir. Baron Bentinck subsequently served as a Deputy Lieutenant for Kincardineshire and died on 7 July 1957. He was succeeded to the barony by his only son, with the right to use it ceasing upon the latter’s death.

Sold together with various group photographs.

For the medals awarded to the recipient’s wife, see Lot 110.