Description
A Boer War /Great War group of four medals to Lt. Col. Sir Brodrick Cecil Denham Arkwright Hartwell, Queen's South Africa Medal, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Driefonteim (288 Cpl. B. C. D. A. Hartwell, Ceylon M.I.), 1914-15 Star (Capt. Sir B. C. D. A. Hartwell Bt, Leic. R.), War and Victory Medals (Lt-Col. Sir B. C. D. A. Hartwell Bt), brooch mounted. Very fine. (4)
Sir Brodrick Cecil Denham Arkwright Hartwell, 4th Bt (1876-1948) was the nephew of Sir Francis Houlton Hartwell, from whom he inherited his title and whose medals are offered in the previous lot. The Ceylon Mounted Infantry saw action in South Africa in 1900 and the War Services list shows him as having 4 clasps to his QSA. He rose from the ranks to 2nd Lieutenant. He was gazetted to the 2nd Battn. Leicestershire Regiment in August 1900, as a Lieutenant. He resigned his Commission in March 1906, citing "Private affairs" (copy letter with lot), Hartwell applied for employment with the Home defence Forces in November 1914. He served in Gallipoli in the Great War, arriving in May 1915 and later invalided home. Between 1916-18, with the rank of Major, 2nd Garrison Battalion, Northumberland Fusileers, then Lt. Col., 1st Cn. Bn. Oxford & Ba he was in command of the British Convalescent Section, Dagshai.
Hartwell led an interesting life. His first wife was French, though living in Algeria. However after only four years of marriage and amidst much scandel, he eloped to Australia in 1907, with the wife of a naval officer, Lieut. E. W. Chamberlain (Joseph Chamberlain's nephew), hence the resigned Commisssion. In 1908 he was able to marry the former Mrs. Chamberlain as his second wife - she was originally from Esquimault, Vancouver. Hartwell tried his hand at various schemes including treasure hunting in Australia, but he was declared bankrupt in 1913. After the War he was declared bankrupt a second time in 1925, this time for trying to smuggle alcohol into America during the prohibition era. Ramsay MacDonald was to call him a "disgraceful blot". In March 1934 he wrote to the War Office volunteering to raise a unit in Berkshire, but the idea was rejected.
A number of photocopied records are sold with the lot.