Beschreibung:

A superb Great War 1915 ‘2nd Ypres’ D.S.O. group of six awarded to Colonel C. W. H. Crichton, 10th Hussars, who, while suffering from enteric fever, was captured by De Wet’s Boers at Sannah’s Post in March 1900; wounded at Zillebeke in October 1914, he was awarded the D.S.O. for his conspicuous gallantry near Ypres on 13 May 1915, where, having taken command of the regiment following the death of the C.O., in a counter-attack ‘he continued to direct operations, giving great encouragement to his men whilst he lay in the open under heavy shell fire with his leg shattered’; an expert yachtsman, he sailed the British boat to gold medal victory in the 6 metre class at the 1908 Olympic Games Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar, centres depressed, with red enamel damage; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein (Lieut. C. W. H. Crichton. 10/Hussars) top lugs filled with retaining rod; 1914 Star with copy clasp (Major C. W. H. Crichton. 10/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. C. W. H. Crichton.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued, mounted for wear, generally very fine, unless otherwise stated (6) £2,200-£2,600 Footnote D.S.O. London Gazette 3 July 1915. The original recommendation states: ‘Near Ypres on 13th May, 1915, showed conspicuous gallantry and ability in collecting and rallying men who were retiring under heavy shell fire through the 10th Hussars’ position. In our counter-attack he continued to direct operations, giving great encouragement to his men whilst he lay in the open under heavy shell fire with his leg shattered.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916 Charles William Henry Crichton was born in 1872. Claiming a notable aristocratic pedigree, he was the son of Colonel the Honourable Sir H. G. L. Crichton K.C.B., of Netley Castle and the grandson of both the Earl of Erne and the Earl of Northbrook. Educated at Radley College, he was commissioned, from the Militia, Second Lieutenant in the 10th (The Prince of Wales’s Own) Royal Hussars on 7 December 1895. Promoted Lieutenant on 25 June 1897, he served in South Africa during the Boer War, arriving at the Cape in December 1899. Present with General Broadwood’s Brigade at the Relief of Kimberley, operations at Paardeberg and the action at Driefontein. On 31 March, by now suffering from enteric fever, he was captured when the skeleton remnants of the 10th Hussars were ambushed by De Wet at Sannah’s Post on 31 March: ‘After a considerable detour the Household Cavalry discovered a place to cross and the Tenth found one on their left. They crossed and made for the ridge above with a view to a flanking movement, but owing to their greatly reduced strength were ordered to retire slowly on Springfontein, where they bivouacked. The Tenth’s casualties in the ambush were three killed, five wounded, two officers and twenty-six N.C.O.s and men missing, taken prisoner, the two officers and several others being patients in the ambulance wagon with enteric fever.’ (The 10th Hussars by Michael Brander refers) Crichton was later released by the Boers due to his illness and returned to England on 27 July 1900. Promoted Captain, 16 November 1901 and Major 4 May 1907, Crichton then served with his regiment in India from 27 December 1903 until 6 November 1912 (Delhi Durbar medal 1911), also finding time, in 1908, to represent Great Britain at the Summer Olympic Games. An expert yachtsman he competed in the 6 metre class, with fellow crew members, Gilbert Laws and Thomas McMeekin, in the Gold Medal winning British boat, Dormy. Posted to South Africa in November 1912, the regiment was then recalled from Potchefstroom to England at the outbreak of the Great War and joined the 6th Cavalry Brigade as part of the 3rd Cavalry Division in France on 8 October 1914. Crichton, in command of a squadron, was wounded, suffering a gun shot wound to his left arm, durin