Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘German East Africa’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Lieutenant David Suttie, 7th South African Infantry, late Royal Highlanders

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1451 C.S. Mjr: D. Suttie. 7/S.A. Inf:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (3122 Sgt. D. Suttie, 2nd Rl: Highldrs:); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (2nd Lt. D. Suttie) contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £1,000-£1,400

D.C.M. London Gazette 26 May 1917:
‘For devotion to duty. This Warrant Officer, by his untiring energy and devotion to duty has set an excellent example to the N.C.O.’s and men of the regiment.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 8 February 1917 (General J. Smuts’ despatch of 27 October 1916, for East Africa).

David Suttie was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, on 1 August 1869. He served in the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) from 10 December 1886 until 11 March 1893, then joined the Dundee City Police as a constable before rejoining the Black Watch for service in the Boer War as a Sergeant from 1 February 1900 until 16 February 1901 (Queen’s medal with 4 clasps). Suttie remained in South Africa and joined the Transvaal Town Police, serving with them from February 1901 until the end of June 1908 by which time he was a Police Superintendent.

By the time of the Great War, Suttie was living in Johannesburg and was employed as an electric pumpman by the Chamber of Mines. He attested for service in the South African forces on 11 November 1915, then aged 46 years, and was promoted to Sergeant-Major on 23 November 1915. He served with “A” Company, 7th South African Infantry in German East Africa from 1 December 1915 until 22 February 1917, as part of the force operating against von Lettow-Vorbeck. As part of 2nd South African Infantry Brigade they initially took part in General Smuts’ two-pronged invasion of G.E.A., being part of the column directly commanded by Smuts himself. In the period January to May 1916, 7th S.A.I. took part in operations south of Mount Kilimanjaro, including the ill-fated battle of Salaita Hill on 12 February, the capture of the Latema-Reata Hills on 11 March, and the crossing of the Himo River. In May 1916 the regiment was transferred to Van Deventer’s column, taking part in the march southwards from Dodoma to Morogoro, finally reaching Kilossa in October. He spent a month in Dodoma hospital in November and December 1916 suffering from lumbago. In January 1917 he was promoted Acting Regimental Sergeant Major and returned to South Africa the following month, where he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 28 March. He re-embarked for G.E.A. on 18 June but was admitted to Dar-es-Salaam hospital with myalgia on 27 September. He returned to the Union, was admitted to Durban hospital on 21 October 1917, suffering from malaria, and was released from service on 22 December 1917. He re-enlisted in the 1st S.A.I. on 23 August 1918, on this occasion giving his age as 39 when, in fact, he had just turned 50! He was finally discharged on 10 February 1919.

Sold with his Black Watch regimental diary for 1931 (issued through the South African Corps of Commissionaires) together with copied research including Boer War muster-roll for Angus which lists Suttie with a small photograph of him in uniform, S.A. service papers and various London Gazette entries.