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Queen Victoria of England Signed Appointment. ... (Total: 2 )
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Description
Queen Victoria appointment for the first Canadian officer to die in the Boer War
Queen Victoria of England Signed Appointment. One partially
printed page, 15.75" x 12", [London]; August 28, 1896. Appointment
of Charles Carroll Wood as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Army.
Signed, "Victoria." Accompanied by four letters by Wood
dated November 14, 1896 to March 24, 1898, all written in ink and
measuring 5.5" x 8.5"; three original transmittal covers; and two
medals posthumously awarded for his service in the Second Boer
War.The son of a Confederate soldier who fled the United States after the Civil War, Wood grew up in Canada and was educated in England. His great-grandfather was President Zachary Taylor and he was the grand-nephew of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. After graduating from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1896, he was stationed in British India for three years. When the Second Boer War broke out in October 1899, Boer was promoted to Lieutenant and sent to South Africa. On November 11, 1899, Wood was shot in the head and the chest by the enemy and died shortly thereafter, becoming the first Canadian to die in the war. His death received much attention and Wood's family received condolences from notable figures like Queen Victoria and former Confederates such as Robert E. Lee, Jr., son of the famed Confederate general.
Before Wood perished in the Boer War, he served at Fort Ostenburg in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. In his letters, Wood described the sights and sounds of his steamship journey to southeast Asia. In a letter dated November 14, Wood wrote about his trip across the Bay of Biscay: "On Sunday we had a rough day the ship tossing badly but we were all prepared for it as crossing the Bay at this time of year you always get bad weather. There were very few on deck and nearly everyone was sick. I was only sick for a few moments while dressing for breakfast, but was on deck all day and so far have not missed a single meal. In fact everyone on board seemed to think I was a wonder."
One week later, he had arrived in Egypt and wrote of his perception of the local population: "We passed lots of Arab camps and scores of camels &c. The Arabs in their long white shirts and turbans would come down to water's edge and hold out their spears for us to put something on and if one threw a coin in the water it took them about 5 seconds to throw off their cloak & dive in after it...I have picked up a few Indian words...but do not know how they are spelt. I should tell you then you can't believe a word that the natives tell you and they can tell you the most wonderful lies with a straight face and have the cheek to think you believe them."
By October 1897, Wood had settled into his post at Fort Ostenburg. In a letter dated October 10, he complained of the lack of activity around camp, writing, "The daily programme is something like this: I rise at about 5.30 go on parade at 6.30 and drill &c until about 8 oclock. At 8 oclock go to mess & have breakfast and loll about until 9.30 when you go to Orderly Room for billiards or whatever you like until you want to go to bed."
This lot is accompanied by two medals posthumously awarded to Wood for his service in the Boer Wars.
Condition: Appointment creased and bent along folds. Letters are all creased along folds with separations and closed tears at the creases. Letters have minor paper loss to multiple pages, affecting text. Toning and staining throughout with pencil notations on verso.
Auction Info
2023 September 21 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6272 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
September, 2023
21st
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
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