Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Colonel Evelyn Gordon Reeves, Ceylon Mounted Infantry

Jubilee 1897, silver (Major E. Gordon Reeve, C. M.I.) engraved naming; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, E.VII.R., unnamed, hallmarks for London 1909, with top brooch bar, mounted court style for wear, first with edge bruising, very fine and better (2) £240-280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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Evelyn Gordon Reeves was born in about 1855. He served in the Honourable Artillery Company in London before settling in Ceylon where he was a planter. In 1891 he was Resident Manager of the Hoolankanda Estate in the Kelebokka District.

On 11 July 1892 Reeves succeeded in enrolling 62 men, and thus formed the Ceylon Mounted Infantry. He was granted a commission as a Captain on 11 August 1892 and he continued as commanding officer until 1913, a period of nearly 21 years. The Corps was originally raised as a mounted Infantry Company of the Ceylon Light Infantry. In 1906 the designation was altered to Ceylon Mounted Rifles. Reeves was promoted to Major in October 1894 and to Lieutenant-Colonel in November 1903. In 1897 the Corps was represented at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London, the contingent commanded by Reeves as Major. For this service he was awarded the Jubilee Medal 1897 in silver.

Lieutenant-Colonel Reeves was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration in 1912, the notification of the award published in the Ceylon Government Gazette of 2 August 1912. The Decoration was presented to him by General Sir Ian Hamilton, G.C.B., D.S.O., on 9 December 1912 in Kandy at the Inspection of the Regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Reeves resigned his command in March 1913 and was granted the Honorary rank of Colonel, being transferred to the reserve. There were two trophies given by the Ceylon Mounted Rifles - one named the ‘Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon Reeves Cup’ and the other, ‘Mrs Reeves Prize’. Colonel Reeves died on 5 September 1914 at Upper East Hayes House, Bath, aged 59 years.

Sold with a quantity of copied research.