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Auction: 9022 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 627

Miniature Awards: The Boer War V.C. Group of Eight worn by Lieutenant-Colonel J.F. MacKay, Gordon Highlanders, Later Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Victoria Cross; India General Service 1895-1902, V.R., two clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-8, Tirah 1897-8; Queen´s South Africa 1899-1902, five clasps, Belfast, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Transvaal; King´s South Africa 1901-02, two clasps; Africa General Service 1902-56, three clasps, S. Nigeria 1904, S. Nigeria 1904-05, S. Nigeria 1905-06; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals, mounted as worn, generally very fine or better, together with the following related items: -An Officer´s Shoulderbelt-plate of the Princess Louise´s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders - An extremely rare Officer´s Glengarry Badge of the 91st Highlanders, in the form of the reversed cypher and coronet of the Princess Louise, mounted with Roman numerals XCI, within an oval strap inscribed ARGYLLSHIRE HIGHLANDERS, 72mm high overall, all in white metal, vertical pin-fitting, with the name Mackay scratched on the reverse - A bonnet Badge - The recipient´s Church pew name-plate, inscribed ´Reconnaissance Cl. & Mrs. J. MacKay 1929-1932´ (8) Estimate £ 800-1,000 V.C. London Gazette 10.8.1900 Corporal John Frederick McKay [sic], the Gordon Highlanders ´´On the 29th May, 1900, during the action on Crow´´s Nest Hill, near Johannesburg, Corporal McKay repeatedly rushed forward, under a withering fire at short ranges, to attend to wounded comrades, dressing their wounds whilst he himself was without shelter, and in one instance carrying a wounded man from the open, under a heavy fire, to the shelter of a boulder.´´ Lieutenant-Colonel John Frederick MacKay, V.C., born Edinburgh, June 1873; enlisted as a Private in the 1st Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders, and served with the Regiment in the Campaign on the North West Frontier under Sir William Lockhart with the Tirah Expeditionary Force 1897-98, and was present at the engagement at Dargai, forcing of the Sampagha and Arhanga Passes, actions at Tirah Madan, Waran Valley, and Bara Valley, and operations in the Dwatoi Country and in the Bara Valley; promoted Corporal, and served with the Gordon Highlanders during the Boer War, and was present at the advance on Kimberley, including the action at Magersfontein, operations in the Orange Free State, including the actions at Paardeburg, Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Hournek, and Zand Rivers, in the Transvaal, including the actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria, at Belfast, and at Lyndenburg (Twice Mentioned in Despatches); Commissioned Second Lieutenant, King´´s Own Scottish Borderers, 27.7.1901, after 6 years and 233 days in the ranks; Seconded for service with the Southern Nigeria Regiment, 9.5.1903, and took part in the Imo River, Cross River, and Ibibio Country Expeditions, 1904-05, and the Bende Hinterland Expedition 1905-06, and served with the Northern Nigerian Regiment, in command of Ogumi Patrol, 1907 (Twice Mentioned in Despatches); Lieutenant, 19.10.1905; transferred Hampshire Regiment, 8.5.1907; transferred Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 20.5.1908; Captain, 20.5.1908; Adjutant of the 7th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Scots, 23.11.1908-22.11.1911; Served during the Great War, attached 21st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Scottish), 2.8.1915-27.8.1916; Major 1.9.1915; Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel, Territorial Force Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, 28.8.1916-11.11.1918; retired to Nice, southern France, 1921. Lieutenant-Colonel MacKay died 9.1.1930. Lieutenant-Colonel MacKay´´s Victoria Cross and other full-sized medals are held in the Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen. This pattern of Glengarry badge is believed to have been adopted by the 91st Highlanders in 1871, but was superseded the following year on the marriage of the Princess Louise to the Marquess of Lorne, heir to the Duke of Argyll, when a much more ornate badge, incorporating the Boar´´s Head crest of the Argyll family, was introduced. Both these patterns are illustrated in Bloomer, Pages 106 and 108 respectively. Bloomer notes that the earlier badge was made in silver and gilt, but the only known example to have appeared previously at auction (Christie´´s June 1983) was entirely in silver or white metal. Although images of this badge appear in a number of works, notably in an article by Mr M.E. Taylor on insignia of the 91st Highlanders on "Dispatch" in 1975, it is not clear how many actual examples exist. It seems likely, in view of the scratched name "Mackay" on the item in the current sale, that it has been in the family for some time, although Army Lists circa 1871-72 show nobody of that name in the 91st Highlanders. Nor have any photographs come to light of officers of the regiment wearing the badge. Spink would like to acknowledge the most valuable assistance in researching this Glengarry Badge by Colonel Denis Wood, Mr Rod Mackenzie of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Dr Alan Grosart, and Mr Jeff McWilliam.

Sold for
£1,800