Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

The Boer War C.M.G. group of four awarded to the Rt. Hon. Colonel The Lord B. E. B. Castletown, late of the Militia and Yeomanry, and Leinster Regiment, one of the last Knights of Saint Patrick, whose colourful life as a soldier, sportsman and traveller is vividly recalled in his autobiography Ego The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s, breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (Lieut: Hon: B. E. B. Fitz Patrick. Rl. E. Kent. Yy. Cav:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (Lt. Col. F. E. B. Lord Castletown. Lnstr. Rgt.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (4) £2,000-£2,400 --- K.P. Nominated in 1907 and invested on 29 February 1908. C.M.G. London Gazette 26 June 1902. Bernard Edward Barnaby Fitzpatrick, 2nd Baron Castletown, was born in July 1848 and was educated at Eton and Brasenose College, Oxford. Having then made a grand tour of the continent, he served as an observer and ambulance worker in the Franco-Prussian War: ‘During the time I was in France I saw a good deal of the actual fighting, including the termination of the battle of Gravelotte and the deep road where the Germans made their great sacrifice of life, and I also watched the retreat of the French at Sedan ... The poor dead, half-burnt by the conflagration, were lying in all directions, and the wretched French prisoners were being collected by the Bavarians ... I was sent to work at a typhus and typhoid hospital for some time - a very unpleasant experience’ (Ego refers). Commissioned in the 1st Life Guards on his return from France, Fitzpatrick resigned his commission on getting married in April 1874, but maintained his military links with an appointment as a Captain in the City of Cork Artillery Militia from 1875-77 and in the Royal East Kent Yeomanry, in which latter capacity he gained attachment to his old regiment, the 1st Life Guards, during the Egypt operations of 1882, including the battles of Kassassin and Tel-el-Kebir (Medal & clasp; Khedive’s Star): and surely a uniquely named award to the Royal East Kent Yeomanry. Of Tel-el-Kebir, Fitzpatrick later wrote: ‘A little before dawn one gun was fired from the works, and then the whole sky was lit up as gun after gun was fired from both sides, and the rattle of rifle fire was overwhelming. It seemed to last only a short time; then dawn came, and one of the first things I could distinguish was the head of a soldier lying on the ground at my horse’s feet; how it came there I have no idea, but there it was. We advanced at a trot, shells whistling about us, but I do not think we had any casualties. As the dawn grew stronger, I saw Indian lancers galloping all over the place, and spitting unfortunate Egyptians with their lances. At last the firing ceased, and we worked up to the entrenchments and dismounted. I walked into the redoubt nearest to us and realised what a strong place it was. There has been severe fighting; some of the Soudanese had fought to the end, and men were lying wounded and dead in all directions ... We had our lunch by the canal, and I wandered into the low bush which fringed it. Bang! went a rifle and I heard a bullet whistle past my head; I fired at the spot from whence the shot had come, and dropped to the ground to await events. As nothing further happened, I cautiously worked my way through the bush, and found I had shot an Egyptian soldier. He was badly wounded, poor chap, and I did what I could for him and got him water; he was a brave fellow as he never whimpered or groaned. As I sat by him he motioned with his hand to his breast pocket, which he could not reach. I felt in the pocket and pulled out a small paper Koran, and handed it to him. He read it carefully, and after a few minutes turned on his side and died’ (Ego refers). Fitzpatrick was M.P. for Portarlington Borough 1880-83 and succeeded his father in 1883 as 2nd Baron Castletown. In the Boer War, and having been appointed a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 4th Battalion, Leinster Regiment, he served as Assistant Adjutant-General on Lord Roberts’ staff, and was awarded the C.M.G. Never one to be found behind a desk for too long, Fitzpatrick made it his business to go out on intelligence gathering patrols, and to share in the dangers of other offensive operations. From 1906-10 he was chancellor of the Old Royal University of Ireland, of which he was an honorary LLD. In 1907 he was appointed a Knight of Saint Patrick, and in 1908 was sworn of the Irish Privy Council. In the Great War he did admirable recruiting work and his coolness, courage and devotion were remarkable in the troubles that followed. He married in 1874, the Hon. Ursula Clare Emily St Leger, daughter of 4th Viscount Doneraile. Lord Castletown died without issue on 29 May 1937.