Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Third Afghan War M.C. pair awarded to Colonel R. H. Wilson, Indian Army, who was attached to the 2-9th Gurkha Rifles at the time of winning his decoration

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately engraved, ‘Capt. R. H. Wilson, 1920’; India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, North West Frontier 1930-31, with M.I.D. oakleaf (Capt. R. H. Wilson, 2-9 G.R.), lacquered, good very fine (2) £1600-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The collection of Medals formed by the Late Clive Nowell.

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Just 21 M.Cs were gazetted in 1920 for the Third Afghan War - British Gallantry Awards, by Abbott & Tamplin, refers.

M.C. London Gazette 3 August 1920.

For distinguished service in the Field in the Afghan War, 1919.

Richard Henry Wilson, who was born in June 1886, was educated at Sherborne and the R.M.C. Sandhurst, originally being commissioned into the York and Lancaster Regiment in August 1906. Transferring to the Indian Army in 1908, he was appointed to the 82nd Punjabis, but saw no active service until the Third Afghan War, when he was attached to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Gurkha Rifles.

Advanced to Major in August 1921, Wilson held various regimental and staff appointments between the Wars, was appointed Second-in-Command of the 5th Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment in February 1930, and witnessed active service on the North West Frontier in the same year, when he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 26 June 1931 refers.

Later still - and having been advanced to Colonel in January 1934 - he appears to have served in the 8th Punjab Regiment, but from October 1937 he was Inspecting Officer and Secretary of the Frontier Corps in the North West Provinces, in which capacity he remained employed until being placed on the Retired List in 1941, a period that witnessed his appointment to C.I.E. in 1939. The Colonel settled in Lymington, Hampshire, where he died in January 1969.

The MC is to Capt Richard Henry Wilson, 82 Punjabis, whose services are as per the footnote. The IGS was awarded to Capt Robert Hamilton Birch Wilson, 2-9th Gurkha Rifles, who was killed in action on 1 March 1920. His medal should not have the clasp for North West Frontier 1930-31 but should have additional clasps for Mahsud 1919-20 and Waziristan 1919-21. He is further entitled to a Great War pair with MID for service in Mesopotamia. Sold as viewed; estimate £400-500