W Woolmore Collection - Militaria

Lot 3638    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 2ND APRIL)    W Woolmore Collection - Militaria

Estimate $7,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $10,500

BOER WAR PRESENTATION SILVER SALVER, (1902), hexagonal shaped (26.5cm), with beaded edge and tiered sides down to a flat base with engraving at the outside, 3 short legs and hallmarked on reverse for Birmingham 1902 by maker 'BB' (Barker Brothers), centre of tray inscribed with Imperial Light Horse crest and below this, 'Officers' Patrol/who rode with Major Karrie Davies/into Mafeking/on the Night of May 16th 1900/J.Dryden L.M.Harvey/A.B.Duirs C.Seymour/E.W.Warby H.F.Francis/J.Emerton E.A.Betton/Presented to H.F.Francis by Major Karri Davies', the tray is seated on a fitted velvet pad and has a velvet slipcase, all this is in a magnificent hinged lid timber case and inside the lid is a colour sticker of the Imperial Light Horse crest, a paper print of the salver inscription and a sticker for the case maker, 'This box crafted in South Africa by Timber Village, Knysna, from selected African Ebony Wood, (and phone no.)'; also a photographic display of the abovementioned officers in a reproduction of images of all men including Major Karri Davis as presented by the officers to Major Davies and below is a profile of The Relief of Mafeking Patrol and its officers, under glass in a timber frame (approx 34.5x63.5cm). The first very rare, extremely fine. (2)

On 16 May 1900, a day before the Relief Column entered Mafeking to end the 7 month siege, a 9 man patrol of the Imperial Light Horse, commanded by the prominent Australian, Major Walter Karri Davies, evaded the encircling Boer forces and entered the Town. There was much jubilation and singing of anthems at BP's headquarters on their arrival. After the relief, Major Karri Davies ordered a silver salver to be made and engraved for presentation to the Lowveldt big game hunter, Henry Farmer Francis, one of the 8 members of his patrol. Three days earlier Francis had lost his brother killed in action at the battle at Maritzani, a few miles south of Mafeking.

Farmer Francis later accepted a commission as Captain in Steinaecker's Horse and was killed in action during the pre-dawn battle at Fort Mpisane on 7 August 1901. He was already dead when the engraved silver salver arrived from England and it was sent to his next-of-kin in Durban. On the salver is engraved the names of all the 9 men on that historic patrol. One of them, Warby, was also an Australian and was awarded the 'Distinguished Conduct Medal'.

Information from the book titled Steinaecker's Horsemen by William (Bill) Woolmore, pp189, 'Francis Henry Farmer, Lieutenant/Captain (AO310 6:4:01): A well-known lowveld big game hunter who was highly respected by both whites and blacks. He had hunted with his friend, Percy Fitzpatrick, and is mentioned by name in Fitzpatrick's classic Jock of the Bushveldt. It was Francis who, years before the war, captured the lions kept at his residence, Groote Schuur, by Cecil Rhodes. He had shot a lioness and discovered that she had three cubs nearby. Francis took the cubs back to his camp which was located near the kraal of Chief Mpisane Nxumalo and they were foster-mothered by his setter bitch. He later gave the cubs to his friend, Percy Fitzpatrick, who kept them for some time until their size and the problem of housing the rapidly growing lions forced him to part with them. Fitzpatrick presented the lions to Cecil Rhodes who had a den built for them at his residence in the Cape. Before they could be delivered however one died as a result of snakebite. The other two were still living at Groote Schuur in 1909, many years after their capture. Prior to the Anglo-Boer War Francis was the first warden appointed to the Sabie Game Reserve which was later expanded to become the Kruger National Park. While a Lieutenant in Steinaecker's Horse he wrote to Percy Fitzpatrick to see if he could later have him appointed superintendent of the park.

Francis served previously as Trooper No.647 in the Imperial Light Horse and served with that unit in Ladysmith during the siege and later was a member of the column which relieved the besieged town of Mafeking. His brother, who was also serving in the Imperial Light Horse, was killed outside Mafeking. Farmer Francis was discharged from the Imperial Light Horse on 12 October 1900. He joined SH (Steinaecker's Horse) as Lieutenant on 12 November 1900 (AO281 13:2:01) and was promoted to Captain on 5 March 1901. He was killed in action (shot through the head) at Fort Mpisane, north of the Sabie River, near Hassan Ughaz on 7 August 1901 where he had been in command of the garrison. On 6 June 1902 Steinaecker reported that Francis 'would have been recommended for award for general good service and military ability had he survived'. Regardless he was Mentioned in Lord Kitchener's despatches (London Gazette 29 July 1902). Percy Fitzpatrick later said of him, 'a braver or a stauncher comrade no man could want'. He qualified for the QSA medal with clasps Defence of Ladysmith, Relief of Mafeking, Transvaal & SA 1901. His medal and clasps were sent to Mrs W.Buckle, Stampford Hill, Durban.'

With copies of relevant photos and maps.