Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War ‘Battle of Magersfontein’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private R. Edmondstone, Gordon Highlanders

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (3191 L. Corpl. R. Edmondstone, Gordon Highrs.); India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Chitral 1895, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98, clasp carriage altered to accommodate additional clasps (3191 Lce. Cpl. R. Edmondston [sic], 1st Bn. Gordon Highrs.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Belfast (3191 Pte. R. Edmondston [sic], Gordon Highrs.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (3191 Pte. R. Edmondstone, Gordon Highrs.) slight contact marks and minor edge bruising, very fine (4) £2,400-£2,800

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

R. Edmondstone attested for the Gordon Highlanders, and served with the 1st Battalion as part of the Chitral Relief Force under Major-General Sir R. C. Low, K.C.B. Serving at the forcing of the Malakand Pass, he was slightly wounded by buckshot on 3 April 1895 (London Gazette 15 November 1895). For his services in the campaign, his name was brought to the notice of Brigadier-General H. G. Waterfield, Commanding 2nd Brigade. Edmondstone subsequently served with the Tirah Expeditionary Force under Sir William Lockhart, K.C.B., K.C.S.I., against the Afridi and Orakzai tribes.

Edmondstone then served in the Boer War and was mentioned in Lord Robert’s despatch of 4 September 1901 (London Gazette 10 September 1901), and was subsequently awarded the D.C.M. for his services.

The regimental history records an incident during the battle of Magersfontein, 11 December 1899, following the initial retirement when the Highland Brigade was repulsed in their disastrous attempt to take the hill. A Boer shell dropped near a group of Highlanders crowded around a water-cart. It was noted that, ‘The Gordon water-cart had been pretty far forward before this, for Lance-Corporal Edmondstone, in charge, was mentioned for gallantry. He was very strict in not serving without orders, and no man got a second drink.’

Elsewhere in the regimental history it is recorded, ‘Lance-Corporal Edmondstone, end man of many a tug-of-war team, one of the original machine-gun squad of the battalion; and so big that he was allowed an extra half-ration daily. Someone gives his weight as 19 stone, but I consider that a libel; anyway he did his marches well enough.’

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