GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY 45
An unusual Boer War 'friendly fire' incident D.C.M. pair awarded to Private H. Morton, Seaforth Highlanders
DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL,
E.VII.R. (5601 Pte. H. Morton. Seaforth Hdrs:); QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5601 Pte. H. Morton. Sea: Highrs: M. I.) unofficial rivets between state and date clasps, edge bruise to first, good very fine (2)
£1600-2000
Provenance: Boer War Sale, Spink, October 1999. D.C.M. London Gazette 26 July 1901.
H. Morton served with the Seaforth Highlanders in South Africa during the Boer War, and was decorated for his gallantry during a 'friendly fire' incident at Houtbosch Loop in June 1901, and was Mentioned in Despatches by Lord Kitchener thus, ‘Private H. Morton (promoted Corporal); on June 14, a company of mounted infantry with which he was, being shelled by our own guns at 2,000 yards, took cover; Morton stayed in the open trying to signal to the guns, though the shells were all around him.’
The original Recommendation for Morton's D.C.M. made by Major T. Macan, Officer Commanding 18th Mounted Infantry gives the following: ‘I have the honour to bring to your notice the conduct of No. 5601 Pte. H. Morton 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders now serving with the 18th Mounted Infantry as a signaller. On the 14th June 1901 the company to which this man belongs was working in the Houtbosch Loop when shell fire was opened upon it by one of the guns belonging to a co-operating column, the company having been mistaken for the enemy; the company managed to get under cover but Private Morton remained in the open at very great personal risk endeavouring to signal to the party who were firing on the company. The distance the gun was firing from was only about 2,000 yards and the range had been correctly estimated as the shells were bursting all round the position. I consider the conduct of Pte. Morton well worthy of recognition.’
Additional remarks supplied by Colonel G.E. Benson state: 'I recommend Private Morton's conduct for consideration. I think that it is probable he may have saved the lives of some of his comrades by this action. The column which opened fire was Colonel Parkes's.'
Brigadier General Spens added: 'Forwarded and recommended that No. 5601 Pte. H. Morton 1/Seaforth Highlanders be awarded a Distinguished Service [as the D.C.M. was sometimes called at the time] Medal for gallant conduct on the 14th June 1901.'
46
A ‘Gheluvelt’ 1914 D.C.M. awarded to Corporal M. Pugh, 3rd Battalion, South Wales Borderers
DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, G.V.R. (13211 Cpl. M. Pugh. 3/S. Wales Bord:) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine
£800-1200 D.C.M. London Gazette 16 January 1915:
‘For gallantry on 31st October in assisting to collect unattached men and bringing them to the trenches under a heavy fire, and again on 2nd November in gallantly assisting to extricate men who had been buried by a shell, under heavy fire.’
Later, at Zillebeke on 12 November 1914, the German XVth Corps Prussian Guard attacked, but were repulsed, a few prisoners being taken. The regimental history takes up the story:
‘Thus the weary survivors of the battalion were still able to give a good account of themselves, nor did they leave the initiative entirely to the enemy, for when a machine-gun posted in a house was making itself troublesome, Corporal Pugh and Private Black went out from our trenches, crawled up to the house and, rushing it, killed the entire team and put the machine-gun out of action.’
Matthews Pugh entered France on 8 October 1914. He was later a Sergeant with 170 Coy., Royal Engineers.
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