A Collection of Medals The Property of a Gentleman
270
A very rare Great War East Africa operations D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private H. Cairnduff, South African
Rifles, late Transvaal Scottish
DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, G.V.R. (18 Rfmn. H. Cairnduff, 1/S. Afr. Rif.); 1914-15 STAR (Pte. H. Cairnduff, 8th Infantry);
BRITISH WAR MEDAL 1914-20 (Sjt. H. Cairnduff, 4th S.A.I.); VICTORY MEDAL 1914-19, M.I.D. oakleaf (Pte. H. Cairnduff, 1st S.
A.R.), contact marks, generally very fine (4) £1200-1400
One of just eight D.C.Ms awarded to the South African Rifles in the Great War.
D.C.M. London Gazette 25 November 1916: ‘For gallantry in action. When his troop was ordered to retire from a position enfiladed by
machine-gun fire, he returned and brought in two wounded men.’
Hugh Cairnduff was born at Barrhead, Scotland in 1893 and onetime served in the 6th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
(Territorial Force), prior to enlisting in the 2nd Battalion, Transvaal Scottish, in which unit he served in German West Africa from
September 1914 until August 1915. Transferring to the 1st South African Rifles in the latter month, he went on to witness further active
service in Nyasaland, East Africa until discharged medically unfit in August 1917, in which theatre of war he won his D.C.M., in
addition to being mentioned in despatches by Brigadier-General E. Northey (London Gazette 25 September 1917 refers); he was
awarded the Silver War Badge and the King’s Certificate (No. 2251).
Following a period of recuperation, Cairnduff re-enlisted in the 1st South African Infantry Brigade in May 1918 and briefly held the rank
of acting Sergeant while employed in the U.K. during the period August to November 1918. Latterly employed out in France, he was
finally discharged in August 1919; sold with a file of research.
271
An extremely rare Great War D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Captain G. C. Andrews, New Zealand Forces, late 2nd
Dragoons, in which latter regiment he was decorated for gallantry at Bourlon Wood in November 1917
DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, G.V.R. (20858 S.S. Mjr. G. C. Andrews, 2/Dgns.); 1914 STAR, WITH CLASP (5817 Sjt. G. C.
Andrews, 2/Dns.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS, M.I.D. oakleaf (2 Dn.-5817 W.O. Cl. 2 G. C. Andrews, 2-Dns.); WAR
MEDAL 1939-45; NEW ZEALAND WAR SERVICE MEDAL 1939-45; ARMY L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (390655 W.O. Cl. II G. C.
Andrews, D.C.M., The Greys); NEW ZEALAND MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL,G.VI.R., 1st issue (W.O. 1 G. C. Andrews, N.Z.P.S.),
the Great War period awards with contact marks and polished, nearly very fine, the remainder rather better, and
undoubtedly a unique combination to the 2nd Dragoons (8) £2400-2800
Just 17 D.C.Ms were awarded to the 2nd Dragoons in the Great War.
D.C.M. London Gazette 23 March 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Although knocked down by a shell he kept
his platoon together during a critical situation when a relief was being carried out under heavy fire. He collected tools and weapons
that had been cut off by a barrage and attended to and arranged the evacuation of the wounded.’
Grosvenor Cecil Andrews, who was born in Kensington, London in July 1884, first entered the French theatre of war in the rank of
Sergeant on 17 August 1914, later served as Squadron Sergeant-Major, and was awarded his D.C.M. for the above cited deeds at
Bourlon Wood on 28 November 1917, in addition to winning a mention in despatches (London Gazette 11 December 1917), the
ribbon of the former distinction being presented to him at a parade at Ennemain in mid-February 1918.
In May 1924, while serving as a Regimental Quarter-Master Sergeant at Risalpur, Andrews applied to join the New Zealand Armed
Forces, an application supported by General Birdwood, then G.O.C., Northern Command, India, and shortly afterwards he was
appointed a Staff Sergeant on the New Zealand Permanent Staff. In August 1933, having served as a Mounted Rifles Instructor in
Auckland, he was appointed Regimental Sergeant-Major in the North Auckland Mounted Rifles, but on the renewal of hostilities,
transferred to duties at Ngaruawahia mobilisation camp. Here, due to overwork, he was granted sick leave, prior to being appointed an
Area Instructor and granted a Quarter-Master’s commission in May 1940.
Thus ensued a number of appointments connected with the training of mounted troops, in which work he gained advancement to
Assistant Area Staff Officer in December 1943. Then in August 1944, he became Adjutant of the 1st Battalion, The Auckland Regiment,
and later still, of the 1st Battalion, North Auckland Regiment, and he was finally placed on the Retired List in the rank of Captain &
Quarter-Master in January 1946.
His M.S.M., announced in NZAL/33 of the same month, was presented to him at a special parade held at Whangarei High School; sold
with a file of research, including photocopied photographs - a full account of the recipient’s career may be found in Service Lives
Remembered, Chamberlain’s definitive listing of New Zealand M.S.Ms 1895-1994).
www.dnw.co.uk
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