Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Captain Sir Reginald Arthur Spence, Sussex Home Guard, late Bombay Light Horse

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut.); Defence Medal (Sir R. A. Spence); Delhi Durbar 1911 (Sergt. R. A. Spence, Bombay Light Horse); Volunteer Force Long Service (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Lt., B. Lt. Horse), mounted as worn, minor edge bruising, good very fine (4) £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Brigadier Brian Parritt, C.B.E..

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Reginald Arthur Spence was born in 1888 and educated at Christ’s Hospital. In 1901 he arrived in India as an Assistant with Phipson & Co., Bombay. He served in the Bombay Light Horse, 1901-22, retiring from the regiment as a Lieutenant. The Bombay Light Horse was a very select unit made up of Europeans living in Bombay, who never drew their pay - which was used to maintain the units’ equipment, stabling and mess. Promotion was always from within the ranks of the unit. In 1900, when Spence was serving in the regiment, it consisted of a total strength of 54 divided into three troops. In 1904 a Pony Troop was added which increased the total to around 60. The regiment formed the escort for important visitors and was probably the reason behind the award of the Delhi Durbar Medal in 1911. Spence was a member of the Legislative Assembly of India, 1921-23. In 1929 he became Sheriff of Bombay, and in the same year he received a knighthood. In 1930 he became a member of the Council of State for India, and during 1930-33 was a member of the Provincial Council of Bombay. At this time he was also a Director of the commercial company, Phipson & Co, Bombay. In addition to these military, civic and commercial duties, Spence was a J.P. and Hon. Presidency Magistrate for Bombay; Honorary Secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society, 1920-33 and Honorary Treasurer of the Bombay Education Society; Governor of Barnes School, Bombay and an active Mason. In England at the time of the Second World War, Sir Reginald was a Captain in the 18th Sussex (Crowborough) Battalion Home Guard. He was also a Governor and Almoner of his old school, Christ’s Hospital and Master of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, 1949-50. A member of the Oriental Club, he latterly lived at Pear Tree Cottage, Blackboys, Sussex. He died on 13 September 1961. Sold with copied research.