British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (Capt. A. M. Byng, Rl. Fus. M.I.) good very fine £400-500

Arthur Muirhead Byng was born on 26 September 1872, son of Major Arthur Hervey Byng, late of the Leinster Regiment, of Southsea. He was cousin of Sir George Master Byng, 9th Viscount Torrington and great-great-grandson of the unfortunate Vice-Admiral Hon. John Byng, R.N., who was hanged for ‘neglect of his duty’ on 14 March 1757.

Arthur Muirhead Byng was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the West India Regiment in 1895 and was transferred to the Royal Fusiliers as a Captain in March 1901. He was employed with the mounted infantry in South Africa, 1901-02, for which he was awarded the Queen’s medal with four clasps, and was employed with the Egyptian Army during 1903-05.

As a Captain with the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, he was killed in action on 14 September 1914 at Vailly during the Battle of the Aisne. He was observing the enemy through his field glasses when he was shot through the throat by a sniper and killed instantly. Captain Byng has no known grave; his name is commemorated on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial. With some copied research.