Beschreibung:

A scarce Great War M.C., M.M. group of seven awarded to Warrant Officer Class 1 F. J. Colton, Royal Scots, who was specially promoted for gallantry and initative by Lord Kitchener in repulsing a Boer raiding party, 5 April 1902 Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘7143 C.S.M. F. J. Colton, 2nd Bn. The Royal Scots’; Military Medal, G.V.R. (7143 C.S. Mjr., F. J. Colton, M.C., 2/R. Scots); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (7143 Pte. F. Colton, Royal Scots) correction to initial; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (7143 Corpl., F. J. Colton, Rl. Scots), mounted as worn; 1914 Star, with clasp (7143 Sjt. F. J. Colton, 2/R. Scots); British War and Victory Medals (7143 A.W.O. Cl. 1 F. J. Colton, R. Scots) mounted as worn, edge bruising, contact marks, nearly very fine and better (lot) £1800-2200 Footnote M.C. London Gazette 26 July 1918. ‘Company Sergeant Major Frederick Joseph Colton, Royal Scots.’ ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. After two of the Platoon Commanders were killed, this Warrant Officer, on his own initiative, went up to the front line and took command, repelling a determined attack by the enemy. He then crawled forward to a shell hole, and remained there for three hours sniping the enemy, who were trying to regain their own lines from adjacent shell holes.’ M.M. London Gazette 11 February 1919: ‘7143 Coy. S.M. Colton, M.C., F. J., 2nd Bn. (Finsbury, N.)’. M.I.D. Lord Kitchener’s Despatch 1 June 1902. ‘For gallantry and initiative in repulse of a Boer raiding party at Balmoral, on 5th April 1902.’ Frederick Joseph Colton was born in 1877, the sixteenth child of a family of seventeen. He enlisted into the Royal Scots on 22 February 1900 and entered South Africa on 22 October 1900. Of the seven boys in the family, one other, the youngest joined the Royal Scots and five of them served in the Boer War. In the Boer War Frederick Colton distinguished himself in an action at Balmoral, 5 April 1902, being specially promoted to Corporal by Lord Kitchener for the gallantry shown. The Diary of Services of the First Battalion The Royal Scots during the Boer War records: ‘There was a splendid little fight at Balmoral, where Jack Hindon’s Commando, 200 to 300 in strength, endeavoured to capture some cattle; this attempt was frustrated primarily by the gallant and intelligent conduct of three men, No.8225, Dr. H. Robertson; 8255 Pte. J. Lockhart; and 8187 Pte. A. Blease; all of the Volunteer Service Company “Q”, and secondly, by the determined initiative of Nos. 7143 Pte. F. Colton; 6526 Pte. A. Hough; 7095 Pte. T. Williams. The first five were promoted corporals by Lord Kitchener for their gallantry. The G.O.C. Eastern Line telegraphed: “Very glad to hear you did so well, and that you beat the Boers off so successfully.” The Commander-in-Chief (Lord Kitchener) wired to General Featherstonhaugh: “I should like to promote the three men Volunteer Company Royal Scots, who appear to have acted so well at Balmoral; tell all concerned I consider their action reflects great credit; send me their names.”’ On a darker note, both he and his brother in the Royal Scots were reported to be ‘dead’, much to the distress of their parents. After service in South Africa Colton was based at the Depot and Shorncliffe, leaving the regiment after seven years to get married. With the start of the Great War Colton rejoined the regiment. As a Serjeant in the 2nd Battalion he entered France on 7 September 1914 and saw service with his battalion throughout the war. It is recorded that during this time ‘he commanded a platoon in the Ypres Salient, had his box respirator shot to bits, his revolver hit in his jacket pocket and suffered many other adventures. He was, also, told by the General that he was too old for a commission, and by another, that he was too young.’ For his great bravery and leadership in action, Company Sergeant-Major Colton was awarded the Military Cross. Later in the