The North West Frontier campaign medal awarded to Captain S. M. Bruce, 37th Lancers, who...

The North West Frontier campaign medal awarded to Captain S. M. Bruce, 37th Lancers, who was killed in action in South Persia in May 1918 India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Captn. S. M. Bruce, 37th Lcrs.) toned, nearly extremely fine £500-£700 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 31 October 1917. Stanley Malcolm Bruce was born on 6 August 1878 at Hythe, Kent. He was educated Aberdeen House Ramsgate, under George Simmers, Clerk in Holy Orders, and at Wellington College, passing for Sandhurst. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Dragoon Guards on 16 February 1898; Indian Staff Corps, 19 May 1900; Lieutenant, 7th Bombay Lancers (Baluch Horse), 25 June 1900; Captain, 37th Lancers (Baluch Horse) 16 February 1907; Brevet-Major, 1 September 1915; Major, 6 April 1917. D.A.A.G. 25 October 1917. He was present at the punitive action against the Zakka Khel Afridis, 13th-27th February 1908. The rapid advance of Major-General Sir James Willcocks' column combined with the use of the new 10-pounder breech-loading mountain gun using smokeless powder so surprised the Afridis that they submitted quickly to the British forces. He was mentioned in despatches in October 1917 for operations against the Lashanis, Tutakis, Charrahis and other robber tribes in South Persia. Sykes states from his History of Persia, ‘In April a section of the 23rd mountain Battery under Major R. S. Rothwell, a squadron of the 37th Lancers under Major S. M. Bruce, and a wing of the 124th Baluchis under Lieutenant-Colonel E. F. Twigg, reached Bandar Abbas from Bushire. This tiny force may perhaps claim the “record” for distance marched during the Great War, most of the troops covering 5,000 miles during the next three years. It also won considerable success in the field.’ Major Bruce is mentioned continuously throughout the narrative and was also involved in reconnaissance work with Major V. P. B. Williams, 4th Cavalry, in surveying 113 miles of roads for military use when Bruce was in charge of the Niriz Column. By May 1918 warfare had broken out among the tribes and Shiraz was invested by up to 5000 Qashqai tribesmen. Between 24th-26th May, Colonel E. F. Orton, 37th/15th Lancers, led a force out of Shiraz to break the siege. IOR/L/MIL/17/15/30 contains Captain N. De Brath’s despatch of the action in which Major Bruce was killed. Bruce's small force had lost communications with the main army by helio and were forced to keep a 700 yard distance from the deadly accurate Qashqai riflemen. In the ensuing skirmishes the force was outmanoeuvred in the difficult terrain by an enemy that was both cunning and ruthless. As he lay dying Major Bruce said to his Senior Indian Officer “I shall be dead soon. Hold on to this position and beat then off with fire”. Volunteers were called to assist bringing in Major Bruce and the wounded; two men of the Burma Mounted Rifles and four men 37th/15th Lancers were taken out at a gallop. Major Bruce is buried in the British War Cemetery Tehran. He was 39 years old and a bachelor. The Medal Index Card for the 37th Lancers shows that he was entitled to the British War and Victory Medals which were issued by the Indian government. Their whereabouts are unknown but it is probable that they were sent to his brother, Major John Bruce, serving in the Indian Remount Department who had taken over the administration of his brother's Will. Sold with an extensive file of copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient. For the C.B. pair awarded to the recipient’s father, see Lot 63.