Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant W. J. Park, 1st Tower Hamlets Rifle Volunteer Brigade and City of London Imperial Volunteers, Maxim Gun Section

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (888 Serjt: W. J. Park. C.I.V.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Johannesburg, Wittebergen, Diamond Hill (888 Sgt. W. J. Park, C.I.V.); British War and Victory Medals (019822 Pte. W. J. Park. A.O.C.) mounted court-style for display, good very fine (4) £1,800-£2,200

A. A. Upfill-Brown Collection, December 1991; Jack Webb Collection, August 2020.

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901.

One of only 14 Distinguished Conduct Medals awarded to the City Imperial Volunteers during the Boer War.

William John Park was born at St. George in the East, London, on 10 December 1877. A leather cutter by occupation, he enlisted into the 1st Tower Hamlets Rifles in 1896 and served with their detachment in South Africa during the Boer War as the senior volunteer N.C.O. - under Sergeant Stevens, Royal Artillery - in the Maxim Gun Section of the Mounted Infantry, City Imperial Volunteers. For his services during the Boer War he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901) and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Park later saw service in the Army Ordnance Corps during the Great War.

The above sketch was reproduced in the Daily Graphic on 26 July 1900 and was drawn from notes provided by Captain Edis who had been present at the action. The British occupied Pretoria on 5 June 1900, and the sketch shows the C.I.V.s bringing their Maxim into use at Diamond Hill on 18 June. Fripp wrote, ‘They brought their Maxim over the roughest ground - almost carrying it - and managed to keep it in action for about a quarter of an hour, to the great discomfort of the enemy, notwithstanding a cross fire of “pom poms” and field guns. As usual the Boers got into a nest of rocks, but in spite of the impregnable position which they held, the discretion of valour compelled them to retire with a couple of wagon loads of dead.’