Six: Brigadier-General Cyril Frank Templer, Army Remount Department, late 1st Bombay Lancers

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (Lt., 1 Bom. Lan.); 1914 Star (Maj., A. Remt. Dept.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Brig. Gen.); Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, no clasp (Lieut., 1st Bo. Lcrs.) medals mounted for display, good very fine and better (9) £500-600

C.M.G. London Gazette 14 January 1916. ‘Lieutenant-Colonel, Indian Army’.

C.I.E. London Gazette 3 June 1918. ‘Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary Brigadier-General), C.M.G., Director-General, Army Remount Department.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916.

Cyril Frank Templer was born on 3 October 1867. He was first commissioned into the Royal Artillery in February 1889 before being appointed to the Indian Army in May 1891. Promoted to Lieutenant in February 1892. Posted to the 1st Duke of Connaught’s Own Bombay Lancers in 1894, with whom he served in the Sudan campaign. Seconded for service with the Indian Staff Corps in July 1894. Promoted to a Captain in the Indian Staff Corps, January 1900 and Major in the Indian Army Remount Department in 1907. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in February 1915. Lieutenant-Colonel Templer was appointed Director-General of the Army Remount Department in September 1915 (London Gazette 4 July 1916). For his services with the Remount Department during the war, he was mentioned in despatches, awarded the C.M.G. and C.I.E. and awarded the brevet of Colonel, retiring in 1920. As a Brigadier-General he was recalled during W.W.2 for service as Deputy Controller Air Raid Precautions, Moray and Nairn, and War Office Welfare Officer for Forres, Morayshire.

In 1925 he was President of the Arab Horse Society. Latterly a keen member of the Findhorn Yachting Club. He died in Forres on 28 January 1947, his health having been impaired since the previous Autumn when his yacht capsized in stormy weather in Findhorn Bay.

With an original photograph of the recipient as an officer in the Bombay Lancers at the time of the Sudan campaign; together with ‘Army Remount Service’, ‘Army Remount Department India’ and ‘Remount’ cap badges. Also with copied research including a copied photograph of the recipient in later life.

For the C.M.G. and C.I.E. attributed to Brigadier-General Templer, see lots 76 and 78.