The Collection of Medals Formed By Dr A W Stott

A fine Jameson Raider’s Great War M.B.E., Boer War D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Major Percy Pilkington, Lancashire Fusiliers and Liverpool Regiment
Eight: The Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) 1st type; Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (6167 A.Serjt.-Maj. P. Pilkington, Lanc. Fus.); British South Africa Company Medal 1890-1897, reverse Rhodesia 1896 (O.R.S.M. P. Pilkington, Staff B.F.F.) this heavily contact marked, therefore good fine; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, S.A. 1901, S.A. 1902 (6167 Clr. Serjt. P. Pilkington, Lanc. Fus.); 1914-15 Star (Lieut. & Q.M. P. Pilkington, L’pool. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (6167 S.Mjr. P. Pilkington, Lanc. Fus.) unless otherwise described, generally very fine and better (8)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals Formed By Dr A W Stott.

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M.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 15 March 1920, King’s Liverpool Regiment.
D.C.M. London Gazette 31 October 1902, details London Gazette 17 January 1902 ‘For good work at Klein Roodepoort, on 27th October, 1901.’

Percy Pilkington took part in the famous Jameson Raid in December 1895. Interviewed by the Kentish Times in 1939, he said: “My actual participation in the Jameson Raid was preparing the 60 mile depots which were established between Mafeking and Bulawayo in order to enable the raiding force to travel entirely without wheeled transport. Each depot was provided with two days’ man and horse provisions. Actually I travelled up and down a number of places establishing these posts. I belonged at the time to a force that was called the Rhodesian Horse Volunteers....During those days in December 1895, I was in daily contact with Dr. ‘Jim.’ My personal chief on the military side was Sir John Willoughby, commanding officer of the Rhodesian Horse, who was subsequently tried at Bow Street. I met Cecil Rhodes in those days, too. He was trekking with us at a time when some of the papers were saying that he was hiding from justice. Frank Rhodes I knew better. He was one of the five raiders who were sentenced to death. We had travelled together in the famous coach that ran between Bulawayo and Mafeking.”

After serving on the staff of the Bulawayo Field Force, as Orderltroom Sergeant Major, during the Matabele campaign of 1896, Pilkington served in the Boer War as part of the 17th Mounted Infantry. The Regimental History of the Lancashire Fusiliers contains a copy of a note which a company commander sent to the Colonel of the 3rd Battalion (Lancashire Fusiliers), “I have lost Colour-sergeant Pilkington, I am sorry to say, as he has been made R.S.M. He is a very plucky chap. He has had four horses shot under him. He is certain to get the D.C.M.”

Pilkington served on the staff during the Great War as Assistant Provost Marshal, and later as Commandant of a Reception Camp, from June 1918. He served in France and Belgium from August 1915 to November 1918, and later went to Russia in support of General Denkin’s military mission.