The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

Three: Captain C. S. Roche, Volunteer Company, Middlesex Regiment, who was Mentioned in Despatches and Thanked in Battalion Orders for his services during the Boer War

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901 (Capt. C. S. Roche, Vol: Coy. Middx: Regt.) signs of having been held in a mount, with suspension and clasp carriage re-constituted; 1914-15 Star (Capt. C. S. Roche. Midd’x R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt. C. S. Roche.) surface imperfections to obverse fields, therefore good fine and better (3) £240-£280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Cecil Stuart Roche was born in 1870 and was commissioned Lieutenant in the Middlesex Volunteer Reserve on 20 February 1889, and was promoted Captain on 13 December 1890. He served in command of a Volunteer Company with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, and as well as being Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901) received the following testimonial in Battalion Orders:

‘Colonel Hill cannot part with Captain Roche and his Volunteer Company without conveying to them the sincere regret of all ranks in the Battalion in losing their gallant services, and he takes this opportunity of congratulating them on the good work they have performed during the last thirteen months in the field. No Company or Battalion Commander could wish for a better lot of Officers, non-Commissioned Officers, or men, and the splendid way in which they have assisted to maintain the glorious traditions of the Battalion in particular, and the Army in general, will, he hopes, be ever remembered with pride and satisfaction by them and their comrades. In wishing them “good-bye” and a speedy and safe return home to their families and friends, he can only say that wherever the Battalion may henceforth be stationed it will ever be ready to bestow a hearty welcome to any or all of them.’ (2nd Battalion Orders, dated 7 May 1901 refers).

Roche served with the 12th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from July 1915, and was wounded by shell explosion on 27 January 1916. Evacuated home, he subsequently served with the 24th (Training Reserve) Battalion at Watford, before relinquishing his commission in October 1921.