Major Claude Miller-Wallnutt DSO

Major Miller-Wallnutt of the 2nd Battalion was killed at Wagon Hill, Ladysmith on 6th Jan 1900. He was born on 30th Mar 1861 in Edinburgh, educated there, and entered the Argyll and Bute Artillery Militia. On 23rd Apr 1881 he joined the 75th and was promoted to Lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders on 1st Jul in the same year. He served in the Egyptian and Sudan campaigns, fighting at Tel-el-Kebir, El Teb and Tamai. He was also on the Nile expedition to rescue General Gordon and the storming of the Heights at Malakand and Dargai. He was promoted to major on 18th may 1898.
In South Africa the 2nd Battalion came under siege in Ladysmith. Major Miller-Walnutt commanded a company at the battle of Wagon Hill. He was with Lieut Digby Jones RE when he was shot, some say by the Boer General de Villiers. At the next moment de Villiers was himself shot in the head by a sapper. Claude Charles Miller-Wallnutt was described as 'a man cast in the mould of a Berserk Viking' which conjures up a picture of a fierce and scary highland fighter. His award of the DSO was gazetted on 20th may 1898.

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