Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A superb Great War 1915 ‘Second Battle of Ypres, 1915’ D.C.M. campaign combination group of eight awarded to Sergeant H. J. Salter, Military Mounted Police, late 7th Hussars and 9th Lancers

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (633 L. Cpl. H. Salter. M.M.P.); British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Rhodesia 1896, 1 clasp, Mashonaland 1897 (..2 Pte. H. J. Salter. 7th Hus..) suspension loose, heavy edge bruising and contact marks; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 7 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (4121, Cpl. H. J. Salter, 9/Lcrs.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4121 Pte. H. J. Salter. 9th Lancers); 1914 Star (633. L. Cpl. H. J. Salter. M.M.P.); British War and Victory Medals (633. L. Cpl. H. J. Salter. M.M.P.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (633 L. Cpl. H. J. Salter. M.M.P.) mounted for display, minor edge bruising overall, generally very fine unless otherwise stated (8) £2,400-£2,800

D.C.M. London Gazette 5 August 1915:

‘For great bravery and consistent good work from the 9th to 28th May, 1915, near Ypres. He was employed, both day and night in collecting stragglers, directing traffic and collecting war material. During the 24th May he assisted to places of safety several hundred men, who were suffering from gas poison. Most of the time, and especially on the 24th and 25th May, the town was being heavily shelled.’

Henry James Salter was born in Lambeth, London on 3 July 1874. He attested for the 7th Hussars at St George’s Barracks, London, on 26 November 1890. He served initially at Salisbury and Canterbury until embarking with the regiment for India, where they arrived aboard H.M.S. Crocodile on 3 September 1892. He left India on 10 October 1895, aboard S.S. Victoria and on 23 October 1895, he arrived with his regiment in Natal where he served in the operations during the Second Matabele War in Rhodesia and Mashonaland.

Salter transferred to the 9th Lancers on 31 December 1897, and returned to India in March 1898. He was appointed Lance-Corporal in March 1899 but reverted to his prior rank at his own request in October 1899. Two weeks later he arrived back in South Africa at Cape Town, with the 9th Lancers for service during the Boer War. He transferred to the 5th Lancers in March 1902, returned to India the following month and arrived back in England in July 1902. He transferred to the Military Mounted Police on 10 January 1905, and joined his unit at Aldershot. He received his L.S. & G.C. medal with £5 gratuity under Army Order 101 of 1909, and was discharged on 25 November 1911, at Tidworth, having completed 21 years service.

Salter resided at 63 Woodcock Street, Birmingham and was employed as a Commissionaire at Hulford Cycle Co., Ltd, Moor Street. He re-engaged for service during the Great War with the 7th Reserve Cavalry Regiment on 8 September 1914, transferring later that month as Lance-Corporal to the Military Mounted Police. He served with the M.M.P. in the French theatre of war from 4 October 1914, and advanced to Acting Sergeant in August 1917. Salter was discharged on 14 March 1919, having served for a total of 25 years and 205 days.

1 of 34 D.C.M.’s to the Military Mounted Police for the Great War.

Sold with extensive copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient in a cutting from The Birmingham Daily Mail announcing the award of his D.C.M.