A rare and impressive Waziristan 1939 operations D.S.O. group of twelve awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel E. A. Evanson, Indian Army, late Royal Irish Fusiliers, in which latter regiment he was wounded in Gallipoli and again in France in 1916

Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R. 1st issue, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1940’; 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut. E. A. Evanson, R. Ir. Fus.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. E. A. Evanson), as issued separately by the India Office; Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Capt. E. A. Evanson); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, North West Frontier 1930-31 (Capt. E. A. Evanson, 41 Dogras); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39, M.I.D. oakleaf (Maj. E. A. Evanson, 3-17 Dogra R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, the first with slightly chipped and recessed obverse centre piece, generally good very fine (12) £2800-3200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals The Property of a Gentleman.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 22 October 1940:

‘For distinguished services rendered in the field during operations in Waziristan for the period 1 January to 31 December 1939.’

This is the only D.S.O. awarded for services in Waziristan during this period.

Eric Ashley Evanson, who was born in Clonmel, Ireland in November 1890, was commissioned into the 5th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers in December 1914 and first went into action in Gallipoli in August 1915, taking part in the Suvla landings when the Battalion advanced over the ridge under shrapnel fire to Lala Baba. Two days later, on the 9th, Evanson was wounded in an enemy counter-attack on Green Hill, and was evacuated from the Dardanelles a few weeks later. And in a subsequent stint of active service at Loos and on the Somme between April and October 1916, he was again wounded - on the 5th of the latter month - this time on attachment to the 7th Battalion.

Transferring to the Indian Army in February 1918, Evanson witnessed further action in the Third Afghan War as a Captain and Company Commander in the 41st Dogra Regiment, and, having transferred to the 3/17th Dogras in September 1924, in the North West Frontier in the operations of 1930-31.

Advanced to Major in September 1933, he was appointed a Commandant in the Indian Territorial Force, and was awarded the Jubilee Medal 1935 and Coronation 1937 Medals while attached to the 14th Coorg Battalion (official sources refer). Relinquishing this appointment in June 1937, he returned to active service with his old regiment, the 3/17th Dogras, in the North West Frontier operations of 1937-39, and, in addition to his D.S.O., was twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 17 October 1939 and 25 October 1940 refer).

Evanson was advanced to substantive Lieutenant-Colonel in September 1941, while on active service in Egypt and the Sudan, and appears to have relinquished his commission in late 1944.

Sold with a large quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s D.S.O. warrant, dated 25 October 1940, and signed by Anthony Eden; M.I.D. certificates for operations in Waziristan in 1937-38 and for the North West Frontier of India in 1939; passport, dated 1930 and renewed August 1940; Indian Driving Licence, dated 1944; numerous photographs including some showing the recipient wearing his awards, also several group photographs; original Army Record of Service; several news cuttings covering the Dardanelles campaign and listing Evanson as wounded, and other documentation relating to his family.