Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 264

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Capt: H. Dymes. 1st. Nat: Nat: Contgt.), suspension re-affixed, very fine, sold together with a portrait photograph of the recipient

Ex-Don Fosyth Collection.

Harry Rawlins Dymes attended Cambridge University, gaining a Degree before embarking for South Africa some time in 1877/8. He held the appointment of Mathematical Master at Hilton College before looking towards Military Service. He was appointed to the 1/1st Natal Native Contingent as Lieutenant on 28 November 1878 and was advanced Captain on 3 January 1879. He served in various positions while with the Battalion; as Company Commander, Adjutant and also Paymaster.

There are six pages concerning Dymes in A Soldier's Life by Durnford – this in the form of informative descriptions by Dymes of the forming of the unit and anecdotes presumably taken from letters or a diary, which recount his service from the training of the Battalion right up to the day Durnford left for Isandhlwana. Dymes had been destined to go with the Company he was Commanding but at the very last minute was recalled to take the duty of Battalion Paymaster (the Paymaster being ill) and his Company was split between Captain Stafford’s and Nourse to make two enlarged Companies rather than three, something that probably saved his life said Dymes!

Dymes resigned his Commission at the end of May 1879 and applied for a post with the Civil Service, but by 20 September 1879 he had applied to the Colonial secretary for employment in the Colonial Force being raised - presumably for the Basuto Campaign. A unit named Dymes Rifles formed in 1880-81 that fought in Basutoland. The Captain died in Pietersmaritzburg on 26 September 1891, and thus did not live to claim a Medal for the latter campaign; sold together with copied research.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480