Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 830

'I cannot tell you how I miss Tony, both as a great personal friend and on account of the enormous assistance he gave me in running the Battalion. He had unbounded energy, and I am certain he is the most popular officer in the Battalion with his brother officers and with the men, as he always has their interests very much at heart.'

'Tony' Markham's commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Pereira, reflects on his brilliant qualities just hours before his death.

The outstanding and highly emotive 'Old Contemptible's' group of six to Major R. A. 'Tony' Markham, 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, a great character who was twice mentioned in Sir John French's Dispatches for his role in stemming the German advance

On 23 October, having bravely repulsed the Germans from Wieltye, Markham's Battalion was shelled severely and a spent bullet lodged in his temple; taken to hospital at Boulogne alongside Lieutenant-Colonel Pereira, also hit, Markham succumbed to his wounds two days later

Earlier in his career, Markham acted as A.D.C. to the Sirdar at Khartoum following the 1899 Nile Expedition; adventures on a gunboat in Abyssinia followed, earning him the Order of the Medjidie, while his participation in the Bahr-el-Ghazal Expedition was recognised with a rare clasp to his Khedive's Sudan Medal

1914 Star (Major R. A. Markham. C.Gds.), with clasp; British War and Victory Medals 1914-19, with M.I.D. emblem (Major R. A. Markham.); Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued; Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, 4th Class breast Badge, gold centre, silver and enamel, with rosette upon riband, the reverse centre engraved in serif capitals: 'CAPT. R. A. MARKHAM. COLDSTREAM GDS.'; Khedive's Sudan 1896-1908, 2 clasps, Sudan 1899, Bahr-el-Ghazal 1900-02 (Capt: R. A. Markham. Coldstream Gds.), officially engraved naming, the first three loose as issued in original named card boxes, with a glazed leather display case for 1914 Star, the last three mounted court-style as worn, good very fine, scarce (6)

Ronald Anthony Markham was born at Cowes on the Isle of Wight on 15 October 1870, the only surviving son of the late Colonel W. T. Markham, Coldstream Guards, who fought in the Crimean War, and the cousin of Sir Clements Markham K.C.B., F.R.S., a prominent geographer who organised Scott's polar expeditions. He was also the grandson of Sir Francis Grant P.R.A., the Scottish royal portrait painter. The family lived at Becca Hall, Yorkshire. Educated at Charterhouse, Markham joined the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards from the Militia in December 1890.

Markham became Lieutenant in August 1896 and Captain on 12 December 1899, taking part in the first advance against the Khalifa during the 1899 Nile Expedition. From April 1900 to December 1902, he was employed with the Egyptian Army as A.D.C. to the Sirdar. The Sudan Intelligence Report (No. 84) reveals that he was charged with carrying the Sirdar's dispatches from Khartoum to the commanders of the Abyssinian posts at Gore, a dangerous task which involved sailing up the Nile aboard the gunboat Sheikh. For these services Markham was awarded the Insignia of the Order of the Medjidie (4th Class). In November 1900 he took part in Sparkes' exploration of the remote Bahr-el-Ghazal region, receiving the extremely rare 'Bahr-el-Ghazal 1900-02' clasp to his Khedive's Sudan Medal. As part of this expedition, 100 men and women enslaved by the Mahdists were escorted and returned to their native tribes. Markham was promoted to Major in 1907.

The 2nd Battalion started to mobilise at Windsor on 5 August 1914, in response to the 'European Crisis'. As second-in-command of the Battalion, Markham gave invaluable service to its commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Pereira. Both men kept day-by-day journals of the Battalion's activities. From these, we learn that the Battalion caught the 4.12 a.m. train to Southampton on Tuesday 11 August. Split across two ships, the Novaro and Olympia, it sailed at 5.45 p.m. after the officers' horses had been swung aboard. It disembarked at Le Havre at 5 a.m. the next day, to a rapturous crowd. It took part in the Battle of Mons on 23 August, and held Landrecies against the advancing Germans to cover the British retreat.

On 1 September, Markham was almost captured by a German patrol north of Rond de la Reine while carrying a message to the Irish Guards. A sharp firefight unfolded. By the next day the Battalion had withdrawn to Villenoy, just 25 miles north of Paris. Markham goes on to describe the actions along the River Marne, and the British counter-attack, which drove the Germans back across the Aisne. On 14 September, the Battalion staged a magnificent defence of the ridge at Les Grinons, earning the admiration of Sir John French in a special telegram. Markham was mentioned in French's Dispatches of 8 October 1914, and 14 January 1915.

At 5 a.m. on 20 October, the Battalion moved from its billets at Boescheppe to trenches at Wieltye, north-west of Ypres. It advanced three quarters of a mile the next day, pushing the Germans back to Passchendaele. The night was remembered for its heavy German shelling and nerve-wracking false alarms. Refusing its right flank, the Battalion repulsed a heavy German counter-attack on 22 October. It had now dug deep entrenchments, but was shelled severely on 23 October, Markham noting in his diary: 'Was hit by a high explosive to-day. Haversack mackintosh riddled and end of my jacket, but self not touched.' He spoke too soon. At 3 p.m. that day, a spent bullet hit him in the temple, lodging in his head. Lieutenant-Colonel Pereira was also wounded, and both men were taken to the Base Hospital at Christol, Boulogne. Markham had by now lost consciousness, and in a subsequent letter of condolence to his sister, Mrs. A. Smith, Pereira wrote: 'he never recognised me and did not answer questions. I don't think he realised anything.' Lady Sarah Wilson served as a nurse at the hospital, and described the scene:

'Dear Mrs. Smith, - I write to tell you that your brother Tony was brought in here late last night with a bullet wound in his head, quite unconscious. There was no hope from the first. An operation was performed, but it was unavailing as the bone was splintered all to atoms. He died at 10.40 last night, the 25th October.'

As head of the Markham family, his death caused Sir Clements Markham unimaginable grief, possibly contributing to the geographer's demise the following year. A stalwart of the Coldstream 'Nulli Secundus' Club and The Turf Club, he was also a keen cricketer, often to be found at Marylebone and I Zingari cricket clubs. An outstanding horseman, he often rode to hounds and was photographed hunting at Melton Mowbary (illustrated). His 1914 Star and British War & Victory Medals were sent to his sister, on 21 January 1919 and 30 May 1921 respectively. This sister, Mrs. A. Smith, dutifully typed up and printed his war diary. Markham is buried at Sysonby Churchyard, Melton Mowbray.

Sold with an exceptional archive, comprising:

(i)

A contemporary printed copy of The Diary of Major R. A. Markham, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, commencing with the 2nd Battalion's mobilisation at Windsor on 5 August 1914, and ending on 23 October that year, just hours before his death; Markham's (copied) handwritten account of his exploits aboard the gunboat Sheikh, of which the original is held by Durham University; two original photographs of Markham, one in tropical uniform and the other in hunting dress (illustrated).

(ii)

An original typed transcript of the Private Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Pereira, commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, describing each day from 12 August to 29 November 1914, with an accompanying letter from Pereira, addressed to Markham's sister, relating the circumstances of Markham's death.

(iii)

The recipient's two M.I.D. certificates in their original envelope addressed to Mrs. A. Smith, 64 Ennesmore Gardens, S.W.; a copied letter from H.Q. Egyptian Army, Khartoum, confirming Markham's entitlement to the 'Bahr del Ghazal 1900-02' clasp; bestowal letters for his Great War Medals, addressed to his sister; copied MIC; CWGC Certificate; the recipient's Will and Codicil, dated 28 September 1908.




Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£2,800

Starting price
£2100