Signed by General, Sir Neville Lyttleton, who was Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in South Africa during the Boer War (he played a significant part in establishing friendly relations with Boers at the end of the war). The town/suburb of Lyttleton, near Pretoria was named after him. Lyttleton also saw service in the Fenian Raid in Canada; the Jowake Expedition of 1877; Egyptian campaign of 1882; Khartoum Expedition of 1898. During the Boer War he commanded the 4th brigade in Natal; fought along the Delagoa Bay Railway line; fought against General De Wet in the Cape.

Major General Francis William Ward CB (1840-1919) was Master Gunner, St James's Park, the most senior Ceremonial Post in the Royal Artillery after the Sovereign.

He was educated at the East India Company's Military College at Addiscombe in 1856-7, before entering the Bengal Artillery. He then served during the Indian Mutiny of 1857.

He served on the North West Frontier from 1863 to 1864 and took part in the Second Anglo-Afghan War from 1879 to 1880. He later became a Colonel on the Staff Commanding the Royal Artillery in the Punjab. He rose through the officer ranks and became a Major-General in 1895.

He was made Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery in 1902 and then held the position of Master Gunner, St James's Park immediately after World War I. He died in 1919 in London, England.

This document is a Captaincy commission for the volunteer forces for Captain H. Clissold, attached to 2nd Gloucestershire (The Bristol) Royal Engineers (volunteers).

Facsimile / stamped signature of King Edward VII.

308mm x 414mm

R2,500