Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The fine Boer War D.C.M. and M.S.M. group of seven awarded to Regimental Sergeant-Major Thomas Wood, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (2324 Serjt: Maj: T. Wood. 6th Dragoons); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (2324. R.S.M. T. Woods. 6/Drgns.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2324 R. Sjt: Maj: T. Wood. Innis: Drgns.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (2324 S. Major T. Wood. 6th Dragoons); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., coinage head (S. Mjr. T. Wood. 6-Dgns.) original court mounting, light contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (7) £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Yeomen of the Guard formed by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Denny.

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Collection

The lot includes 14 Royal Military Tournament medals, comprising 11 bronze medals won by Thomas Wood for skill at arms as Sergeant Instructor of Fencing in 1894 (1), 1895 (4), 1896 (3) and 1897 (3); and 3 silver medals won by Thomas Wood for skill at arms as Regimental Sergeant-Major in 1899 (2) and 1905.

Thomas Wood was born at Chilham, Canterbury, Kent, on 25 April 1865, and enlisted into the 6th Dragoons at Canterbury on 25 June 1883. He rose quickly through the ranks, being promoted to Sergeant in February 1889, and appointed Sergeant Instructor of Fencing in January 1890, winning a great number of prize medals for skill at arms. He was promoted to Squadron Sergeant-Major in July 1898, and to Regimental Sergeant-Major in October 1898. During the Boer War he went to South Africa as the senior Warrant Officer with the regiment. On 24 December 1900, at Wolverdiend, he was asked to deliver a message to Head Quarters. On his return he came round the foot of a kopje and found that the regiment had moved on. He was captured by the Boers who kept him overnight and then, having taken his binoculars and weapons, released him on Christmas Day. At the end of the war he returned home having been mentioned in Lord Roberts’ despatch of 4 September 1901, and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the London Gazette of 27 September 1901 (Queen’s Medal with 5 clasps; King’s Medal with 2 clasps). His L.S. & G.C. medal was announced in Army Order 172 of 1903 and he was discharged to Pension after completing 25 years service on 25 June 1908.

He was appointed a Yeoman of the King’s Body Guard on 16 June 1913, and in 1936, together with four other long serving Yeomen, was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. The submission to the King read:

‘That the Yeomen of Your Majesty’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard, named on the enclosed list, be awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, with Annuity, as a reward for long and highly meritorious service.’

While serving as a Yeoman of the King’s Body Guard, Wood earned the 1935 Jubilee and 1937 Coronation medals to add to his already impressive group of medals. Thomas Wood died on 8 April 1942, aged 77.