THE VERY RARE FIRST BOER WAR 1881 ‘SIEGE OF POTCHEFSTROOM’ D.C.M. PAIR AWARDED TO A DRIVER OF N/5, ROYAL ARTILLERY, FOR GALLANTRY DURING A SORTIE ON BOER POSITIONS, HE RESCUED A SEVERELY WOUNDED SOLDIER OF THE 21ST FOOT UNDER HEAVY FIRE AND SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT HIM INTO THE FORT IN SAFETY. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY WOUNDED HIMSELF JUST OVER A WEEK LATER

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, V.R. ‘DRIV: A. PEAD. R.A. 22ND JANY. 1881.’, SOUTH AFRICA 1877-79, CLASP, 1879 ‘4754. DRIV: A. PEAD. 5TH BDE. R.A.’

D.C.M. Recommendation submitted to the Queen, 21 September 1882; Royal Artillery Regimental Order No. 59 of December 1882:

‘Her Majesty, on the recommendation of His Royal Highness the Field-Marshal Commanding in Chief, has been pleased to approve of the grant of... silver medals (without annuity or gratuity) to the undermentioned men in recognition of gallant conduct performed by them during the investment of Potchefstroom by the Boers, viz.:-

No. 10205, Driver R. Gibson, N Battery, 4th Brigade, Royal Artillery.
No. 10127, Trumpeter N. H. Martin, N Battery, 4th Brigade, Royal Artillery.
No. 16832, Driver A. Pead, T Battery, 1st Brigade, Royal Artillery.’

Note: Batteries and Regt numbers listed are those the above men served with in 1882, all were N/5 during the Boer War.

In a report submitted by Major C. Thornhill, Officer Commanding the Royal Artillery at Potchefstroom, dated 23 March 1881, he records as follows:

“Further I have to bring to your attention the conspicuous gallantry of Drivers Gibson and Pead and Trumpeter Martin, who on the occasion of the attack on the trenches on the 22nd January went out under the very heavy fire, and at great Personal risk carried in 2 wounded men. In the first instance Dvr. Gibson and Trumpeter Martin carried in Dvr. Walsh N/5 R.A. who I regret to say has since died of his wounds - and in the second instance Dvr. Gibson and Dvr. Pead carried in Private Colvin 2/21st Royal Scots Fus. - Dvr. Gibson thus being present in both instances which occurred within a few moments of each other. These acts speak of themselves without any further comment of mine.”

Driver Alfred Pead was subsequently severely wounded in the left leg wounded at Potchefstroom on 1 February 1882.

The medal was presented by the Queen at Windsor Castle on 8 December 1882, the following report being published in The Ipswich Journal, on 12 December………….

…………..Further details of the siege can be found here:

http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol052jo.html

And Colonel Winsloe diary:

http://samilitaryhistory.org/misc/potch80.html

Condition some EK’s and contact wear, otherwise about VF. Sold original cutting from The Ipswich Journal, as quoted above, and with full research including muster details and copies of the relevant War Office records from The National Archives. Ex City Coins 2003.

A very rare D.C.M. for gallant and distinguished services during the First Boer War , being one of just 20 awards