A Collection of Medals to the Royal Army Pay Corps

A fine Indian Mutiny ‘50th Anniversary’ C.B. group of six awarded to Colonel W. G. Small, Army Pay Department, late 20th, 59th, and 104th Regiments of Foot, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his services in both Afghanistan and Egypt, and was advanced Colonel as a reward for his services in connection with the Boer War

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B., (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, converted for neck wear, on short section of neck riband for display purposes, gilding heavily rubbed, and green enamel to both obverse and reverse wreaths almost entirely lacking; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (W. G. Small, 1st. Bn. 20th. Regt.); Afghanistan 1878-80, 2 clasps, Ahmed Khel, Kandahar (Lieut: W. G. Small. 59th. Foot.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (Lieut. W. G. Small. 59th. Foot.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Gemaizah 1888 (Major Paymaster W. G. Small. A.P.D.); Khedive’s Star, undated, unnamed as issued, minor edge bruising, and light pitting to Egypt Medal from Star; the CB good fine, otherwise generally very fine (6) £3,000-£4,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Royal Army Pay Corps.

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C.B. London Gazette 28 June 1907:
‘On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Military Operations in India in 1857.’

One of only 9 Kabul to Kandahar Stars awarded to the 59th Regiment of Foot.

William George Small was born at Westmeath, Ireland, on 29 March 1842 and originally attested as a boy soldier in the 20th Regiment of Foot in July 1856, seeing active service with them in India during the Great Sepoy Mutiny, being present at the actions at Chanda, Umeerpore, Sultanpore, Lucknow, Curdah, and Musjeedia. Advanced Colour-Sergeant, he was commissioned Ensign in the 59th Regiment of Foot on 18 December 1867, and was appointed Adjutant of the 59th Foot on 28 October 1868. Promoted Lieutenant on 28 October 1871, he served during the Second Afghan War firstly as Baggage Master, Southern Afghanistan Field Force, from 31 December 1878 to 11 February 1879; then as Assistant Field Engineer to the Kandahar Field Force from 12 February to 14 September 1879; and finally as Officer in Charge Field Treasure Chest from 29 March to 26 September 1880. Present at the actions at Ahmed Khel, Urzoor, and Kandahar, for his services he was Mentioned in Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Roberts’ Despatch of 3 December 1880.

Small was promoted Captain on transfer to the 104th Fusiliers on 10 November 1880, and for his services in Afghanistan he was promoted Brevet Major on 2 March 1881. He transferred to the Army Pay Department as Paymaster on 12 May 1881, and served in Egypt and the Sudan as Chief Paymaster to the Suakim Field Force on 5 December 1888, being present at the action at Gemaizah. For his services in Egypt he was Mentioned in Major General Sir Frederick Grenfell’s Despatch. Promoted Major and appointed Staff Paymaster on 28 September 1894, he was advanced Lieutenant-Colonel on 28 September 1899, and retired on 23 September 1900, but was temporarily reemployed on 23 January 1902 and was promoted Colonel as a reward for his services in connection with the War in South Africa on 23 July 1903. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the Indian Mutiny 50th Anniversary Honours’ List in June 1907, and died in Battersea, London on 4 October 1931.

Sold with a display of the recipient’s ribands, signed by the recipient in December 1910; a coloured portrait photograph of the recipient in later life; various carbon copies of official letters sent and received in the latter 19th Century; and other ephemera and copied research.