Auction Catalogue

25 September 2008

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 1660

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25 September 2008

Hammer Price:
£4,000

A fine ‘Boxer Rebellion’ C.B. group of seven awarded to Colonel W. J. H. Bond, Indian Army, six times mentioned in despatches

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel (lacks buckle); India General Service 1854-95, 4 clasps, Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89, Chin-Lushai 1889-90, Lushai 1889-92 (Lieutt., I.C.) all except first clasp loose as issued; India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Chitral, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (Bt. Major, Cmst. Transpt. Deptt. Bl.) all except first clasp loose as issued; Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (Bte. Maj., A.C.G. Cmt. Trn. Dpt. E.A.); China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (Major, S. & T. Corps) correction to unit; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, no clasp (Bte. Major, Comst. Transpt. Deptt. Bl. Cd.); U.S.A., Military Order of the Dragon, reverse inscribed, ‘Lieut. Col. W. J. H. Bond, No.885’, complete with ‘pagoda’ brooch bar and original ribbon; together with a portrait miniature of the recipient, within an oval gold frame, wearing his six official medals, good very fine and better (8) £3400-3800

C.B. London Gazette 25 July 1901. ‘Major, Indian Staff Corps’.

Wensley James Hodson Bond was born on 26 December 1854. He was first commissioned, ex-Sandhurst, as a Lieutenant in the 2nd West India Regiment, on 20 November 1876. He was appointed to the Indian Army with the Bengal Staff Corps on 25 May 1880. In the Burma 1885-88 campaigns he served as Commissariat Officer in the 1st, 2nd and 4th Brigades and was mentioned in Major-General Sir G. S. White’s despatches (
London Gazette 2 September 1887). He was promoted to Captain in November 1887. Serving in the Lushai expedition, 1888-89, he was mentioned in Colonel V. W. Tregear’s despatches (Govt. of India Gen. Order 592/5, July 1889) -

‘Captain W. J. H. Bond, Chief Commissariat Officer, has carried out his arduous duties in a very excellent manner, and has proved himself a most energetic, hard working and reliable officer. His arrangements, both in the matter of rations and transport, have been most successfully carried out. ...’

In the Chin-Lushai expedition, 1889-90, serving in the Chittagong Column, he was again mentioned in Colonel Tregear’s despatches (
London Gazette 12 September 1890) and in July 1890 received the brevet of Major. -

‘Captain W. J. H. Bond, Chief Commissariat Officer. This officer, has for the second time, under my command, in the Lushai country, carried out his arduous and most difficult duties in an excellent manner. I look upon him as a most energetic, hard-working and reliable officer. His arrangements, both as regards rations and transport, considering the difficulties to be contended with, have been most successfully carried out’.

Serving in the Chitral Relief Force he was mentioned in the despatches of Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Low (
London Gazette 15 November 1895). He was promoted to Major in November 1896, and, serving in the Tirah Expeditionary Force he was mentioned for the fifth time in General Sir W. S. A. Lockhart’s despatches (London Gazette 5 April 1898). Major Bond then took part in the Dongola Expedition of 1896, serving as Chief Commissariat Officer of the Suakin Force. His next military appointment was as Chief Commissariat Officer in the China War of 1900, for which he was mentioned in the despatches of Lieutenant-General Sir Alfred Gaselee (London Gazette 14 May 1901) -

‘Major (local Lieutenant-Colonel W. J. H. Bond, Chief Commissariat Officer, has carried out his arduous duties in a most satisfactory manner, and I consider the force is much indebted to him for his care and forethought. I desire to bring his services especially to notice’.

In July 1901 his military services in the China Campaign were further rewarded when he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath. In November 1902 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and in October 1905 he attained the rank of Colonel. Sold with copied gazette extracts and other research.

For the recipient’s miniature medals, see lot 1389.