Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Supple, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut., Rl. Dub. Fus.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut., Rl. Dublin Fus.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Kissi 1905 (Lieut., S.L. Bn. W.A.F.F.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Capt., R. Dub. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Major) light contact marks, otherwise very fine or better and a rare group (6) £1800-2200

William Hamilton Supple was born on 29 March 1878, and was first commissioned into the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on 17 February 1900, becoming Lieutenant in October 1901. He served in South Africa during the Boer War with the Mounted Infantry, including operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900; and again in the Transvaal, 30 November 1900 to 31 May 1902 (Queen’s Medal with 3 clasps, King’s Medal with 2 clasps).

Seconded for service with the West African Frontier Force from February 1905 to November 1909, Supple served in Liberia, West Africa, in 1905, during the operations of the Kissi Field Force from 27 March to 28 June of that year (Medal with clasp). Only 18 British Officers and N.C.O’s were entitled to the clasp for Kissi 1905.

Promoted to Captain in July 1908, Supple was one of the 22 original Officers, of the 2nd Battalion, who landed at Boulogne on 22 August 1914, and, according to the regimental history, was present at the regiment’s first taste of action, at Le Cateau: ‘Here the Brigade came under fire from enemy guns, while the German cavalry showed considerable boldness, pushing patrols almost to the farm, near which, as night came on, two Uhlans were brought down in front of the line of the Dublin Fusiliers. These were the first shots fire by the Battalion (and the Regiment) in the war, and these from men of the picquet under Captain Supple.’

Sold with a copy of a group photograph in which Supple is shown wearing the first three medals.