An interesting C.M.G. group of eight awarded to Brigadier-General A. W. Tufnell, Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, murdered on the Punjab Mail Train in May 1920

The Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., breast badge converted for neck wear, silver-gilt and enamels, in its Garrard & Co case of issue; India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (Lieut., 1st Bn. Ryl. W. Surr. Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (Lieut., Rl. W. Surr. R.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt., The Queen’s); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col., The Queen’s R.); British War and Victory Medals, with oak leaf M.I.D. (Brig. Gen.); French Legion of Honour, Knight’s breast badge, silver and enamels, the group mounted Court style as worn, some contact marks, otherwise generally good very fine (8) £1000-1200

C.M.G. London Gazette 3 July 1916.

M.I.D. London Gazette 22 September and 11 December, 1915, and 6 March 1916.

Arthur Wyndham Tufnell was born on 16 February 1872, educated at Eton and Sandhurst, and joined the Royal West Surrey Regiment in 1891. He first saw active service in India, being engaged in the Tirah campaign of 1897-98. In the South African War he served first with the Natal Field Force under Sir Redvers Buller, and took part in all the operations for the relief of Ladysmith, being severely wounded at the action of Colenso. Later he served in the Transvaal and Orange River, gained several mentions in despatches and promotion to Major in May 1900. Returning home, he passed the Staff College in 1904, was attached to the General Staff, War Office, for two years, then from 1906-10 to the General Staff of the Scottish Command, and from 1912-14 was General Staff Officer, East Lancashire Division.

On the outbreak of the Great War he was given the temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and went out with his division to the Dardanelles, where he was wounded in July 1915. He was afterwards transferred to France, commanded the 126th Infantry Brigade, and in 1916 was appointed to the Staff of the 68th Division, being raised to the rank of Colonel and later Brigadier-General. He left England in January 1920 to take up an appointment in India, where he met his death in mysterious circumstances in May 1920. General Tufnell was travelling from Darjeeling to Simla, and was the only occupant of a carriage on the Punjab Mail Express. He was found lying unconscious with head wounds at Burdwan Station, 70 miles from Calcutta. He was taken back to Calcutta and to hospital where he died on the 17th May.

The group is accompanied by a large quantity of related documents and effect, including Warrant and Statutes for C.M.G.; three M.I.D. Certificates; Diploma for the Legion of Honour; two portrait photographs; black Staff Officer’s tunic with regimental buttons and medal ribbons; red Mess tunic and trousers, with regimental badges and buttons, both jackets with name tags; a Staff Officer’s waist belt, red leather with gilt lace and Victorian waist belt buckle; a framed pastel caricature and several contemporary news cutting reporting his murder. See Lot 685 for his group of miniature dress medals.