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Distinguished Service Order

Distinguished Service Order, GV, C.M.G., Neck Badge, Queen’s South Africa, 2 bars, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast, King’s South Africa, 2 bars, SA 1901, SA 1902, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal…

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Origin: United Kingdom
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Distinguished Service Order, GV, C.M.G., Neck Badge, Queen’s South Africa, 2 bars, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast, King’s South Africa, 2 bars, SA 1901, SA 1902, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal with MiD Oakleaf.

 

Lieutenant William Ernest Scafe DSO CMG, Devonshire Regiment.

 

Born on 7th November 1878 in Stonehouse, Plymouth, his father C.H. Scafe was a General in the Royal Marines.

 

He was educated at St Pauls School in London followed by the Royal Naval School at Eltham, choosing a different path to his father gaining a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion Militia Devonshire Regiment during 1897.
He was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion Devon Regiment on 2nd August 1899.
Soon afterwards he was sent to South Africa for the Boer War, being immediately involved in the Battle of Lombard’s Kop on 30th October 1899.
He was then besieged in the Defence of Ladysmith, during this time on the 27th December 1899 he was slightly wounded.
After being relieved from Ladysmith, he took part in Operations in Natal from March to June 1900, then Transvaal, from July to November 1900, including the actions at Belfast and Lydenburg. From November 1900 until 1901 he took part in the operations in Transvaal.

 

Promoted to Captain in January 1907, promoted to Major in September 1915.
In August 1914 at the outbreak of the war he was Assistant Embarkation Officer at Queenstown. He served as Brigade Major in France from September 1914 until August 1915.
Throughout the remainder of the war he was Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster in France and Italy.
During this time he was mentioned in despatches six times; 1st January 1916, 15th June 1916, 15th May 1917, 11th December 1917, 20th May 1918, 20th December 1918, 5th July 1919.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the L.G. of 3rd June 1916.
He was awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael in 1919.

 

He had gained the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel in June 1917, after the war he continued to serve with Southern Command until 1924, being place on Half pay pay in 1931.

 

With copy research including photograph.