Miniature Medals
‘In view of De Wet’s return from the Transvaal to the district between Heilbron and Reitzburg, and the possibility of his collecting a fresh commando in that direction, I thought it desirable to concentrate a strong mounted force at Kroonstad and on the Rhonoster River. The Colonial Division, which had been attached to Lord Methuen’s column during the pursuit of De Wet, was accordingly ordered to march from Zeerust to Elandsfontein, via Krugersdorp. It left Zeerust on 25 August, being joined by the 3rd Cavalry Brigade under Colonel Little. The same day Colonel Little was wounded near Jacobsdal, and the command of the combined force devolved on Colonel Dalgety’ (London Gazette 8 February 1901).
In extracts from his diary, Little covered the action in more detail: ‘[Sat. 25th] Ricardo as usual no idea of taking up his position. Started at 2 with brigade & 500 Colonials, Kaffirs etc., under Col. Dalgety. Found Boers in a drift, orange groves, etc. at Botha’s farm. 17th Lcrs. Advanced guard. Rode on to see the lay of the land when I got a short range from the donga. Had a squadron 17th working round on the left & squadron of 9th [Lancers] & 100 M.I. on the right. Reed, no reports from the 17th so took Brigade closer than I should have. Handed over command to Dalgety, after clearing out Boers bivouacked at Botha’s farm.’
The other extracts relate to his evacuation to Mafeking hospital by Lord Methuen and his subsequent journey in a hospital train. The last extract describes the serious nature of his wound: ‘Weds. 5 [Sept]. Miss Barnes Day sister. Put under the X-Rays saw bits of cigarette case, bone and bullet along course of bullet. Bullet took a curved course thro’ hitting thigh bone apparently.’
Little, described by one of his Subalterns as ‘an excellent Brigadier’ (as mentioned in A Soldier’s Diary), continued nominally in command of the Brigade until November 1900. He was awarded the rank of Brevet-Colonel and sent to England on sick leave. He did not return to South Africa until 1902, and hence only received the single clasp to this King’s South Africa Medal.
Little took over de Lisle’s Column on 8 April 1902 and commanded it in the drives in North East Free State until the end of the War. He received a final Mention in Despatches from Lord Kitchener as follows: ‘Brevet-Colonel (local Brigadier-General) M.O. Little, 9th Lancers has twice held command of British Cavalry Brigades, and has proved himself a capable leader of mounted troops in the field’ (London Gazette 3 December, 1902). He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath and placed on half-pay in 1904. He was recalled temporarily from retirement in 1905 as a Staff Officer in the Imperial Yeomanry with the rank of Colonel, but again retired in 1908.
Recalled once again for service in the Great War, Little served at Home in the Great Britain as Inspector of Remounts in 1914, and then as Commandant of the Yeomanry Brigade and Coast Defences from 1915 to 1917, for which he was appointed a C.B.E. He retired for a third and final time with the honorary rank of Brigadier in 1917, and on 19 January 1923, Little was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Warwick. He died some years later at his home in Rugby, on 7 February 1931, at the age of 73.
x809
The Great War D.S.O. group of six miniature dress medals worn by Lieutenant-Colonel E. C. S. Jervis, 6th Innskilling Dragoons and Machine Gun Corps
Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., gold and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; 1914 Star, with clasp; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves, mounted court-style as worn, minor enamel damage to reverse centre of DSO, otherwise good very fine (6) £200-£240
Provenance: Glendining’s, June 1989 (when sold alongside the recipient’s full sized medals)
D.S.O. London Gazette 18 July 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He rendered most valuable service by his promptness in bringing machine guns into action. He invariably carried out personal reconnaissances of the situation.’
Ernest Charles Scott Jervis was born on 27 May 1876 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 9th (Militia) Battalion, Rifle Brigade, on 4 January 1896. He transferred to the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant in the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons on 4 February 1899, and was promoted Lieutenant on 6 May 1900. He served with the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons in South Africa during the Boer War, and from 16 May 1901 to 27 September 1902 held the appointment of Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. He was promoted Captain on 14 February 1903, and was appointed Brevet Major on 28 October 1904, before transferring to the Reserve of Officers the following year.
Following the outbreak of the Great War Jervis was recalled to the Colours, and served with the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons and later the Machine Gun Corps on the Western Front from 27 August 1914. He was promoted Major on 28 October 1916, and Lieutenant Colonel on 24 December 1917, and for his services during the Great War was Mentioned in Despatches and appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. He relinquished his commission in early 1920.
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