GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY 30
The outstanding and rare Cavalryman’s Great War ‘1917’ D.S.O., and ‘Charge at Harbonnieres’ Second Award Bar group of eight awarded to Brigadier-General C. R. Terrot, 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons and 5th Dragoon Guards, who had already distinguished himself during the Boer War, when he ‘galloped after another [Boer] and, after a chase of a mile, shot him dead with his Mauser pistol.’ He led the 5th Dragoon Guards in one of the regiment’s most famous actions - the charge at Harbonnieres, 8 August 1918. This, one of the last great cavalry charges, culminated in the capture of a train, 2 field guns, 1 howitzer, 2 anti-aircraft guns, 29 German officers, 740 other ranks, and numerous horses and transport vehicles.
As one of Terrot’s men later recounted, “They gave us the order to charge and I remember thinking: ‘At last we are at it!’ We were knee-to-knee, galloping as fast as the slowest horse could run. The whole line came together and we were leaning forward, our swords pointing. We were close to the train and I could see our blokes going in. They were sticking their swords into everyone in sight. A lot of Germans had their hands up and were trying to surrender but our men were skewering them anyway.” Terrot had a horse shot from under him, and also received a wound to the head, during the action.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICEORDER, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (Lieut. C. R. Terrott [sic]. 6/Drgns.) 3rd clasp a contemporary tailor’s copy and sprung on right-hand side; KING’S SOUTHAFRICA 1901-02, 2 clasps (Lt. C. R. Terrott [sic]. Innis. Dgns.); 1914 STAR, with clasp (Major C. R. Terrot. 6/Dns.); BRITISHWAR AND VICTORY MEDALS, M.I.D. Oak Leaves (Lt. Col. C. R. Terrot); DELHI DURBAR 1911, unnamed as issued; France, LEGION OF HONOUR, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, gilt and enamel, white enamel damage to points, mounted court-style for wear, light contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (8)
£4000-5000 Provenance: Christies, November 1987.
D.S.O. London Gazette 4 June 1917. D.S.O. Second Award Bar London Gazette 15 October 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry during an attack. When sent forward to exploit the infantry success, he led his regiment rapidly through the attacking waves and beyond the final objective. When checked by heavy machine-gun fire from a village, and unable to manoeuvre on account of wire, he dismounted and fought his way forward with two squadrons, so enabling his flank squadron to gallop round and operate to the rear of the village. Many enemy were killed, five guns and seven hundred prisoners captured, and the success of the operation was entirely due to the daring and splendid leadership of this officer.’
M.I.D. London Gazette 29 July 1902, 15 May 1917, 20 December 1918 and 5 July 1919. France, Legion of Honour, Chevalier London Gazette 24 February 1916.
Charles Russell Terrot was born in August 1878, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Terrot, Shropshire Light Infantry, of Nether Newith Hill, County Durham. He was educated at Harrow, and served as a Second Lieutenant with the Shropshire Light Infantry (Militia), prior to his commission into the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons in December 1899. He served with the Regiment during the Second Boer War, and is mentioned several times for his gallant conduct in the Regimental History, including at:
Wonderfontein Station, 2 August 1900, ‘The enemy commenced firing at daylight on our outposts and continued all day. One patrol, under Lieutenant Terrot, found the enemy in strength near Goedehoep Farm, but got back with their information under heavy fire.’
Tevereden, 16 October 1900, ‘Lieutenants Terrot and Gibbs were ridden over by the enemy, sticking to their advanced posts. The enemy were unable to make any prisoners as we drove them so rapidly back again, and we held the ground till dusk, sniping and being sniped.’
As part of an ambush by Rimington’s Column in Orange Free State, 2 August 1901, ‘Marching off towards Kroonstad, an ambush of 30 men, under Lieutenants Terrot and Wood, Inniskillings, was left at the farm Blydschap. After the column had moved off, four Boers came down, and were fired on by the ambush, but, owing to bad shooting, only one man was wounded. Lieutenant Terrot galloped after another and, after a chase of a mile, shot him dead with his Mauser pistol.’
Having advanced to Lieutenant in October 1900, Terrot left South Africa with the Regiment in June 1901. He served as Adjutant of the Royal North Devon Yeomanry, October 1905 - October 1908. Terrot was promoted to Captain in March 1906, and returned for service with his parent regiment in India. During his time in India he formed a close friendship with another Captain of the Regiment - one Lawrence Oates, later of Scott’s last Polar expedition fame. Terrot took over as Adjutant from Oates in August 1909, with the latter being given the command of a squadron.
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