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Lot 529      

Estimate $6,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $9,200

GROUP OF FOURTEEN: Distinguished Service Order(VR); Officer of the Order of the British Empire(OBE) second type Military breast badge; King's Police Medal for Gallantry(GVR); Queen's South Africa Medal 1899 - four bars - Cape Colony; Rhodesia; Orange Free State; Transvaal; King's South Africa Medal - two bars - South Africa 1901; South Africa 1902; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal; Africa General Service Medal 1902 - one bar - Nigeria 1918; Defence Medal; British War Medal 1939-45; Coronation Medal 1911; Jubilee Medal 1935; Coronation Medal 1937. Lieut/Major/Asst.Commr G.N.Walker, New Zealand M.R; Colonel L.H.; S.Nig.Pol; 4th Nigeria Regt. Police medal engraved, next six medals impressed, others unnamed. Slight enamel chipping on reverse of first award, others good very fine. $ Walker, George Henry, Capt., born at Taranaki, New Zealand, 1875. He served in South Africa, with the 4th New Zealand Rough Riders and the Colonial Light Horse, 1899-1901. On 6 March, 1901, 'De La Rey' (says the official 'History of the War in South Africa,' Vol. IV., pages 134-135), 'beset one of Babington's patrols at Geduld, within twenty miles of his Headquarters. The patrol, which was composed of men of the 1st Imperial Light Horse, was less than half the strength of the enemy, and had but one Vickers-Maxim, but it was well handled by Major C.J. Briggs (King's Dragoon Guards), and defended itself so resolutely that once more De La Rey had the mortification of seeing his men retire beaten from a field where all the odds had been in their favour. The Boers lost some two dozen killed and wounded; the British party two officers and five men killed, three officers and thirteen men wounded. Babington, coming up next day, drove the Boers still further northward, and on the 24th completed their rout by overtaking and capturing the whole of their guns, nine in number, including two 15-pounders, a Vickers-Maxim and six Maxims, all with ammunition complete; transport to the number of seventy-seven wagons and carts, and all the camp stuff, together with the escort of 140 men, on the banks of the Taaibosch Spruit. The action which brought this about was a model of pursuing tactics. The enemy continually took up strong rearguard positions, out of which Babington as constantly manoeuvred them by vigorous threats at the flanks, withholding a powerful and menacing front until the defence had begun to dissolve under the lateral pressure. The result was a series of hasty retreats on the part of De La Rey's rearguard, soon degenerating into a rout which infected the whole force and hurried it in disorder from the field. This was a heavy blow to De La Rey.' Capt. Walker was mentioned in Despatches, received the Queen's Medal with three clasps, the King's Medal with three clasps and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order {London Gazette, 23 April, 1901}: 'George Henry Walker, Capt., 4th New Zealand Rough Riders. For good service on the occasion of the capture of Boer guns by Major-General Babington's Column. Dated 23 April, 1901. The Insignia were presented to him by the Governor of New Zealand 6 Sept. 1901. Capt. Walker became Commissioner of Police, Nigeria and was given the King's Police Medal for good service in punishing and bringing to justice the murderers of Mr James, Assistant Commissioner Forcados, Nigeria.