Watch List notes:

*A Rare and Interesting Naval Brigade Q.S.A. Group of Three to Commander Charles Richard Newdigate Burne, of H.M.S. Philomel, Royal Navy, author of the famous book 'With the Naval Brigade in Natal' and present in command one or more 12-pounder naval guns at many of their major actions including Colenso, Spion Kop and Ladysmith, comprising: Queen's South Africa Medal, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek (Lieut. C. R. W. Burne, R.N.); Coronation Medal 1902, in silver; Chile, Order of Merit, Fifth Class breast badge, in silver and enamels; Group court-mounted on bar with reverse brooch pin, some blue enamel damage both sides to last, otherwise the group good very fine (3). M.i.D.: London Gazette, 8 February 1901 (named in General Redvers Buller's despatch). Commander Charles Richard Newdigate Burne entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in 1886, became Midshipman in 1889, Sub-Lieutenant in 1893 and then Lieutenant in August 1894. He initially commanded sailing cutters along the Newfoundland coast in 1895, for protection of Treaty obligations (for which he received official thanks); and was present at Crete during the insurrection in 1898. Upon the outbreak of war in South Africa in 1899 he was appointed Naval Transport Officer at Southampton, leaving for Cape Town on 4 November. He served for a time in H.M.S. Doris and Philomel at Durban, Natal, but later landed for active service with the Naval Brigade (or Buller's Natal Field Force) on 6 December that year, where he was placed in command of two naval 12 pounder guns of H.M.S. Terrible and Tartar. As recorded in his personal journal, which later became the famous book 'With the Naval Brigade in Natal' he was present in action during many of the most significant engagements against Boer forces in Natal, including the actions at Colenso (15 December 1899), on the River Tugela including Spion Kop (a photo of which exists in his book showing Burne's gun team in action) & Vaal Krantz (17 to 27 January 1900). At this latter action, Lieutenant Burne's gun came under heavy shell fire, as recorded in 'The Commission of H.M.S. Terrible 1898-1902' by George Crowe: '...even the general staff were not exempt from a visitation of Boer shell. One 6-inch shell struck the ground twenty yards in front of Lieutenant Burne's right i2-pounder, then ricocheted, unexploded, over their heads, covering the crew with dirt, and twice afterwards these two guns' crews had narrow escapes.' Lieutenant Burne was also present during the relief of Ladysmith (28 February1900), further operations in Northern Natal and Transvaal, including Laing's Nek (May – September 1900). He was mentioned in despatches twice for gallant and meritorious services during the Boer War, and was subsequently noted for early promotion, which saw him appointed to the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert in August 1900 (and promoted to Commander for his services in South Africa). Although we have no further information regarding his secondment, Commander Burne is also shown in 1914 as 'lent to Chile' for which presumably he was awarded the Chilean Order of Merit. Ex Spink, 18 July 1995, lot 316. (£1200-1500)