Interesting box of paperwork and photos - Yeoman Warder / Regimental Sergeant Major F.W.B. Little, DCM, Royal Field Artillery

Spanning the 1890s, The Boer War and up to and including WW1, this is a large collection of paperwork, family items and including some great cabinet photos and CDVs of this soldier and his family, including five letters written to his mother in the field from South Africa (five letters of about 19.5 sides of closely written text of his contact with the Boers) and five letters to his daughter in WW1. It looks like the collection was the property of his daughter, Mary Little. I am unaware of the location of his medals, but he was entitled to the Distinguished Conduct Medal (L.G. Sept 27th, 1901), SA medals, WW1 medals ( Mons Star with clasp) and a Silver War Badge. Upon his discharge from the army, he was appointed Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London. A great research project, otherwise if you have his medals, you have just struck gold!

Copies of SWB, LG and MIC will be provided. There are more items than included in the photos, but the best items are displayed.

His medals were sold by DNW on 26th Sept 2018 as lot 49 as follows:

A Boer War DCM group of nine awarded to Regimental Sergeant Major F. W. B. Little, Royal Field Artillery

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (38906 B:S: Maj: F. W. B. Little. 44th. Bty: R.F.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (38906 B.S. Major. F. W. B. Little, 44th. Bty: R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (38906 B. Serjt:- Maj: F. W. B. Little. R.F.A.); 1914 Star, with clasp (38906 R.S. Mjr. F. W. B. Little. 12/Bde: R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (38906 W.O. Cl.1. F. W. B. Little. R.A.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver (No. 38906. Regtl. Sergt. Major F. W. B. Little, R.F.A.) minor official correction to rank; Jubilee 1935; Army L.S. & G.C, V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (38906 Bty:- Serjt:- Major F. W. B. Little. R.F.A.)

Provenance: Spink Medal Circular July/August 1986.

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901, details appearing in London Gazette 17 January 1902:

‘Exceptional zeal and gallantry on several occasions with Colonel Crewe’s Column, Cape Colony.’

Frederick W. B. Little served with the 44th Battery, Royal Field Artillery during the Second Boer War. The Battery ‘arrived at the Cape on 12th February 1900. Was engaged in the Kheis district on the lower Orange River in May, and afterwards in the western part of Orange River Colony. Two guns were with Colonel Crewe in Cape Colony in 1901 (Lord Kitchener’s despatch of 8th July), and for good work there the sergeant-major was mentioned in despatches [sic].’ (British Regiments in South Africa 1899-1902, J. Stirling refers)

Little advanced to Regimental Sergeant Major, and served during the Great War with the 12th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery in the French theatre of war from 11 September 1914. He was discharged 23 June 1916.

Sold to the family

Code: 53246