A Great War O.B.E. group of eleven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Albert Claude Hewitt, Royal Fusiliers

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (Lieut., Derby. Rgt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Lieut., Rl. Fusrs.); Tibet 1903-04, 1 clasp, Gyantse (Lt., 1st Bn. Ryl. Fuslrs.); 1914-15 Star (Capt., R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (Major); Defence, unnamed; Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed; Egypt, Order of the Nile, 4th Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, rosette on ribbon, mounted as worn, some contact marks, generally very fine (11) £1400-1800

O.B.E. London Gazette 12 December 1919. ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in Egypt and Palestine to date 3 June 1919’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1919; 12 January 1920.

Order of the Nile London Gazette 21 April 1917. ‘Major, Royal Fusiliers, attached Egyptian Army’.

Albert Claud Hewitt was born on 13 February 1882 and was educated at Halleybury College. He joined the Army in 1900, becoming a 2nd Lieutenant in the Derbyshire Regiment. Serving with the 4th Battalion he was captured at Roodeval on 7 June 1900 but was later released. He then transferred to the Royal Fusiliers, being listed as a 2nd Lieutenant in the regiment in December 1901. In South Africa he served as Railway Staff Officer from 21 December 1900, afterwards Assistant Press Censor, 7 October 1901-19 January 1902. He served in operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July-November 1900; operations in the Orange River Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900; operations in Cape Colony, November 1900-May 1902.

As a Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers during the Tibet Campaign; he saw action at Niani and in the operations at Gyantse and was on the march to Lhassa. During December 1907-March 1909 he served with the West African Frontier Force. Promoted Captain in April 1912, Major in January 1916 and Temporary Liautenant-Colonel in July 1918, he served with the Egyptian Army, December 1913-December 1919, and was with the Egyptian Field Force under Allenby, 29 June-31 October 1918. For his wartime services he was awarded the O.B.E. and Order of the Nile. Moving to Iraq, he served with the 52nd Brigade, December 1919-November 1920 and was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1920. Retiring from the Army on 29 June 1922, he later served as a Major in the Home Guard during the Second World War. Latterly the President of the Chertsey British Legion, he died at his home at South Lodge, Ruxbury Road, Chertsey, on 16 December 1959 and was buried in Addlestone Cemetery.

Sold with copied research and several photographs of the recipient. Also with a photocopy of Soldier of Fortune, by Lt. Col. A. C. Hewitt - this being an account of his military service.