A Great War D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. R. Hutchinson, 41st Dogras, late 3rd Sikhs, a veteran of the storming of the Dargai Heights and the Abor operations of 1911-12, who was severely wounded at Festubert in May 1915

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-98 (Lieut. C. A. R. Hutchinson, 3rd Sikh Infy.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Abor 1911-12 (Major C. A. R. Hutchinson, 41st Dogras); 1914 Star, with clasp (Lt. Col. C. A. R. Hutchinson, 41/Dogras); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Lt. Col. C. A. R. Hutchinson); Delhi Durbar 1911, privately inscribed, ‘Major A. R. Hutchinson, 41st Dogras’, the second with officially corrected initial, generally good very fine (7)
£1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The collection of Medals formed by the Late Clive Nowell.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 14 January 1916.

For distinguished service in the Field.

Charles Alexander Robert Hutchinson was born in May 1872, the son of a Surgeon-General in the Indian Medical Service, and was educated at Bedford Grammar School and Sandhurst, from which latter establishment he was originally gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant to the Royal Irish Regiment in November 1891.

Transferring to the Indian Army in April 1896, with an appointment as a Lieutenant in the 3rd Sikhs, Hutchinson served with the Tochi Field Force in the operations on the Punjab Frontier 1897-98, including those on the Samana and in the Kurram Valley; so, too, with the Tirah Field Force at the storming of the Dargai Heights, when the 3rd Sikhs ‘splendidly supported the Gordons in their great charge’ (The Campaign in Tirah 1897-98, by Colonel H. D. Hutchinson, refers); he was subsequently present at the capture of the Sampagha and Arhanga Passes, in addition to participating in the operations against the Chamkannis and in the Bazar Valley (Medal & 3 clasps.

In 1900, he transferred to the 41st Dogras, gaining advancement to Major in November 1909, prior to his part in the Abor operations, when he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 14 July 1912 refers), given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel and awarded the Medal & clasp.

Embarked for France with the Bareilly Brigade, Meerut Division, on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Hutchinson was second-in-command of the 41st Dogras at Festubert on 9 May 1915, a story best related in The Indian Corps in France, by Merewether and Smith.

The 41st Dogras had been exposed to an extremely accurate high-explosive fire, as well as shrapnel, while moving up through the Pioneer Trench, one company being reduced to 28 men. The remains of the two half companies crossed the parapet and pushed forward, but Captain Nixon, 91st Punjabis, who was leading No. 2 Company, was at once severely wounded, and the majority of the men were put out of action.

Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. R. Hutchinson and Lieutenant Vaughan, I.A.R.O., led No. 1 Double Company, and with the remains of No. 2 succeeded in getting a little further forward, but here Colonel Hutchinson was severely wounded in both legs and one hand, while Lieutenant Vaughan had his right arm shattered. At the same time, Lieutenant-Colonel Tribe, the Commanding Officer, who had been watching the advance over the parapet, was wounded in the chest by a shell splinter.

The men lay down under whatever cover they could find to wait for 4 p.m., at which time the assault was to be pressed home, but the whole advance had now been held up. Subadar Jai Singh, 37th Dogras, who was the sole unwounded officer, British or Indian, sent back word that he was ready to assault and was only awaiting the signal.

The casualties, however, both amongst the attacking companies and those still in our trench, had been so serious as to preclude all idea of any further move forward, and Subadar Jai Singh, who had meanwhile been wounded in two places, was ordered to abandon the attack, and await darkness before attempting to get back to the trench.

About this time Major Milne, 82nd Punjabis, was severely wounded while bringing his men up to the front line.

From 5 p.m. the artillery and rifle fire on both sides died down, and the opportunity was seized to re-organize companies and repair trenches, as well as to remove the dead and evacuate the wounded.

The losses of the 41st Dogras during the attack were: 5 British officers wounded; 1 Indian officer killed and 6 wounded, as well as 354 other ranks; while 35 others were killed or believed to have been so. Total: 401 out of 645 engaged.

Lance-Corporal David Finlay of the 2nd Battalion, Black Watch, another unit of the Bareilly Brigade, was awarded the V.C. in the same action.