Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Lieutenant D. A. Vanrenen, Manchester Regiment, later Assistant Resident in Northern Nigeria - where he and a small force were ambushed and murdered by 600 Guari tribesmen, 6 May 1909, ‘a deadly fire of poisoned arrows at short range was poured upon the British. Lieut. Vanrenen being at once killed, his body falling into the long grass...’

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Natal, Transvaal, Orange Free State (Lieut. D. A. Vanrenen, Manch: Rgt.) clasps in this order; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. D. A. Van Renan. Manc. Rgt.) note variation in surname, nearly extremely fine (2) £360-£440

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

View
Collection

Dix Noonan Webb, February 2016.

Donald Adrian Vanrenen/Van Renen was born in Kensington, London in March 1876, and was employed as an assistant resident by the Colonial Office on the Niger Coast Protectorate in 1896. He returned to the UK and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Manchester Regiment in March 1900, and served with his regiment in South Africa from June of the same year. Vanrenen was hospitalised for 7 months, before re-joining the 1st Battalion in February 1901. He was seconded to ‘A’ Division, South African Constabulary in May 1901, and continued to serve with them until he resigned his commission in October 1902.
Vanrenen returned to the Colonial Office, and was posted to Nigeria as an assistant resident. He was murdered there by Guari tribesmen, 6 May 1909. The following details were given in The Cornishman, 19 August 1909:

‘Details have been received of the recent attack on a British force in Nigeria when Lieut. Vanrenen, who was in charge, and 11 police were killed and the doctor wounded. In May, a telegram from Zungeru announced the fact that the force in question had been ambushed, and that a punitive force had been dispatched.

The ill-fated party had started from Kuta only a few hours before it was attacked. It consisted of Lieut. Vanrenen, Capt. Stone, a doctor, a European sergeant, and 30 police. Accompanying the force was the Chief of Gussoro. Its object was to march to Gussoro and there re-instate the chief who, for his loyalty to the British was compelled to leave the town. For two months previously it was reported that the Guaris had been making poisoned arrows, and had declared that they would oppose the return of the chief. It was not thought that the people would attack, but as a measure of precaution Major Williams force had been held in readiness at Kote in case of trouble.

When the attack was made the telegraph line was down. Lieut. Vanrenen had only proceeded for a few miles when he was completely overwhelmed by a force of some 600 natives, who surrounded the party in the thick bush. A deadly fire of poisoned arrows at short range was poured upon the British. Lieut. Vanrene being at once killed, his body falling in the long grass, the doctor was also wounded by poison arrows and eleven police were killed. Whatever formation was possible was attempted, but the heavy and well directed fire completely disorganised the remainder of the police, who fled.

Capt. Stone with great gallantry went back to try and recover his chief’s body, but was unsuccessful, the remains being subsequently found by the punitive force and buried on the spot.’

Sold with copied research.