Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Great War C.M.G. group of seven awarded to Brigadier-General A. Lawson, Queen’s Bays, late Scots Greys, who commanded the former regiment in France and Flanders 1915-18, prior to assuming command of 2nd Cavalry Brigade at the time of the “German Spring Offensive” - earlier, on the insistence of Sir John French, he was appointed Brigade Major of 1st Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot, an appointment that attracted the full wrath of the Army Council and the intervention of the Secretary of State for War

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (Capt., 2/Drgns.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt., 2/Drgns.); 1914 Star, with (slide-on) clasp (Major, 2/Dns.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Brig. Gen.); Union of South Africa 1910, unnamed as issued, minor contact wear and occasional edge bruising, lacquered, very fine and better (7) £2200-2500

C.M.G. London Gazette 14 January 1916.

Algernon Lawson was born in Northumberland in December 1869, the son of a clergyman, and was educated at Harrow. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Hussars in December 1892, direct from an appointment in the Militia, he transferred to the 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys) shortly afterwards. Actively employed throughout the Boer War, latterly in the rank of Captain and onetime as A.D.C. to the C.O. of 3rd Cavalry Brigade, he was present at the actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Karee Sidings and Zand River, and afterwards at Johannesburg, Diamond Hill and Belfast, and was twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901 and 31 May 1902 refer).

In September 1902, Lawson was appointed an A.D.C. to Sir John French, then 1st Army Corps Commander, an appointment that undoubtedly led to him witnessing momentous decisions being made about the future conduct of war - including his C.O’s dislike of mounted infantry versus regular cavalry. But however awkward and difficult such decision making proved, Sir John’s A.D.C. clearly excelled in his new role, so much so that at the end of 1904 he recommended Lawson for the post of Brigade Major of 1st Cavarly Brigade at Aldershot - a decision that defied military protocol and attracted the full wrath of the Army Council. In typical fashion, however, Sir John determined to stand his ground, thereby compelling the intervention of the Secretary of State for War, who ruled in his favour.

Lawson relinquished his post at Aldershot in September 1905, but was re-employed as a Brigade Major (Cavalry) out in South Africa from May 1909 to April 1913, in which period he was awarded the Union of South Africa Medal. Back home by the outbreak of hostilities, he was embarked with the Scots Greys for France in mid-August 1914, but, in April 1915 was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel and given command of the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays), in which capacity he remained actively employed in France and Flanders until assuming command of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade in April 1918, at the time of the “German Spring Offensive”. In the interim, he was awarded the C.M.G. and won a brace of “mentions” (London Gazette 19 October 1914 and 1 January 1916 refers).

After the War Lawson commanded 11th Cavalry Brigade in Egypt 1920-24 and was placed on the Retired List in 1926. The General, a ‘hearty, horsey’ type, was also a Prize Essay Gold Medallist of the Royal United Service Institution, died at his residence in Dorsetshire in August 1929.