A scarce Boer War D.C.M. pair awarded to Corporal F. H. Vallecarde, South African Light...

A scarce Boer War D.C.M. pair awarded to Corporal F. H. Vallecarde, South African Light Horse, who served with the Colt Gun Detachment at Vaal Krantz Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (1176 Tpr. F. H. Vallecarde. S: African Lt: Horse); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (1176 Tpr: F. H. Vallecarde. S.A. Lt. Horse) light contact marks, otherwise very fine (2) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901: ‘Private F. H. Vallecarde, South African Light Horse (Colt Gun Detachment).’ Sir R. Buller’s Despatches 13 September 1900: ‘In a corps like the South African Light Horse, it will be difficult to reward good work except by public notice. I do not know whether it may be found possible to do so, but it case it should be I append a list of those Officers and men who, during 12 months’ work, have performed special acts of bravery, or have been selected for, and successfully carried out, arduous reconnaissances or dangerous duties’ - there follows a list of 10 Officers and numerous men, including Private ‘F. Vallecarde (Bethune’s Mounted Infantry, attached with Colt Gun Detachment).’ Lord Roberts’ Despatches 2 April 1901: awarded D.C.M. - ‘Corporal F. H. Vallecarde, South African Light Horse (Colt Gun Detachment).’ [Corrected from Bethune’s Mounted Infantry in London Gazette 18 February 1902] Frederick Hypolite Vallecarde was born at Heigham, Norfolk, in about 1868, but emigrated to Australia where, on 8 July 1898, he married Elizabeth Govett at the Elizabeth Street Methodist Church in Sydney. His date of enlistment into the South African Light Horse is unknown but he re-enlisted in the regiment at a later date with No. 2829 in the rank of Sergeant, according to the supplementary medal roll for the South African Light Horse. Vallecarde also served as an Agent with the Field Intelligence Department and gained the King’s South Africa Medal with that unit and it could be that when he left the Field Intelligence Department he rejoined the South African Light Horse. Whether or not he subsequently returned to Australia is not known but, in February 1924, it was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald that ‘Elizabeth Vallecarde (formerly Govett) petitioned for the dissolution of her marriage with Frederick Hypolite Vallecarde, on the ground of desertion’ and was granted a decree nisi. Frederick Vallegarde appears to have died at Uxbridge, England, in 1934, aged 61. The Colt Gun Detachment, 13 February 1900 ‘The reconnaissance of 12 February [1900] and other information showed Sir Redvers Buller that there were enemy defences that must be taken before he could seriously attack Hlangwane itself; with this object in view orders were issued on 13 February 1900, as follows: It is intended to seize Hussar Hill tomorrow and the spurs to the east of it north of Moord Kraal and to occupy this position with artillery.’ Lieutenant-General The Earl of Dundonald in "My Army Life" later recorded: "Lord Dundonald's Brigade will cover the movement. It will strike its camp and bivouac on a site which will be pointed out to it. In accordance with these orders I covered the advance; the enemy tried to dispute our seizure of Hussar Hill, but the South African Light Horse under Lieutenant-Colonel Byng by a rapid advance quickly seized a commanding ridge, and assisted by the Company of four Colt guns searched the dongas until the enemy was compelled to retire. The infantry then followed and entrenched the Hill.’ A contemporary account in the Manchester Guardian reported on this action: ‘Chiveley Camp, 13 February 1900. Twice to-day our mounted troops were in contact with the Boers. Captain Stewart, of the South African Light Horse, took a squadron to a hill near Stewart's Farm, which lies to our left on the southern side of the Tagela. He advanced ahead of his men to reconnoitre, and his hat was shot of by some Boers who were concealed from view. The Boers then opened fire on the led horses, which stampeded towards the Boere, and five were lost. A most important affair took place on our right. Here an advance was made by the 700 mounted troops, the 64th Battery R.F.A., and the Welsh Fusiliers, to a hill to the south-east of Hlangwane. The intention was to make a reconnaissance of a position which has often been visited by the Boers. As the advance guard approached the hill they were fired on by the Boers, but it only an affair of outposts until the order was given for the force to retire on the completion of the reconnaissance. The Colt’s gun section immediately came into action, and did some most admirable work. They certainly swamped the Boer fire. Two of the Maxims were jammed temporarily after a few rounds had been fired. The South African Light Horse covered the retreat in succession of squadrons. Sir Bryan Leighton’s squadron retired last night with the Colt's gun section. Garrard, of the Colt detachment, was shot in the leg and back, and Lieut. G. Churchill, younger brother of Mr Winston Churchill, was shot in the leg. There were many narrow escapes. Lieutenant Carlisle, of Sir B. Leighton's squadron, who swam the Tugela under fire to seize the punt at Potgeiter’s Drift, had a bullet sent up his sleeve, but was unhurt. Another man was hit on the bandolier round his stomach. The field guns returned to see if they could give assistance to the Colt’s gun detachment, but the retirement had then been effected.’