Boxer Rebellion at DNW

An important and unique group of medals relating to West Africa and the Defence of Legations in China during the Boxer Rebellion sold for £39,680 (includes Buyer’s Premium of 24%) at Dix Noonan Webb in auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria in March.

This highly-prized group of four was awarded to Dr Wordsworth Poole, who was the Principal Medical Officer in Central Africa between 1895-1897; West Africa during 1897-1899 and was also Mentioned in Despatches for his services as Physician to the British Legation during the Siege at Peking. He was the only Doctor attending the wounded and kept diaries of his time in Africa and China.

Also of note in the sale was the impressive Malaya, Borneo and South Vietnam Jungle Fighter DCM group of eight awarded to Warrant Officer First Class JG Sandford, 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, for great gallantry, forceful leadership and aggressive demeanour as a Platoon Commander during multiple close-quarter jungle fights. This was one of the four DCMs awarded to New Zealanders during the Vietnam War, and Sandford was probably the most decorated New Zealand combatant senior non-commissioned officer of his generation. It sold for £27,280.

Christopher Mellor-Hill of DNW noted, “This very rare gallantry award, second to the VC, was one of only four given to acknowledge the bravery and the fortitude of the New Zealand forces in Vietnam but more singularly, the New Zealand SAS – this could have easily been a VC!”

Elsewhere in the sale were several medals relating to Waterloo. Among the highlights was the Waterloo Medal awarded to Sergeant William Porteous of the Royal Scots Greys, who was severely wounded with eight lance wounds in different parts of the body. It sold for £17,360 to an overseas collector. William Porteous was born in Stenton in Haddington, East Lothian and enlisted at the age of 17 in April 1794. Mellor-Hill commented, “This medal represents the famous charge of the Royal Scots Greys immortalised in the famous painting by Lady Butler Scotland Forever and Sgt. Porteous was one of the most severely wounded in the charge with no less than eight lancer wounds but survived."

The next Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria auction at DNW is on 19 May. ■