Auction Catalogue

25 February 1998

Starting at 1:00 PM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Arts Club  40 Dover St  London  W1S 4NP

Lot

№ 733

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25 February 1998

Hammer Price:
£650

A good C.M.G. group of five to Colonel W. A. E. St.Clair, who commanded No 4 Company, Bombay Sappers and Miners in Afghanistan and served with 10th Railway Company, Royal Engineers during the Egyptian campaign

The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Lieut, R.E.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (Captn, R.E.) minor edge bruising to these two medals; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, S. A. 1902 (Lieut.-Col., Rl. Engrs.); Khedive’s Star 1884-86, the group mounted as worn, generally good very fine or better (5) £500-600

C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1918 ‘In recognition of valuable services in connection with the war’

Colonel William Augustus Edmund St Clair was first commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in April 1873. Commanded No 4 Company Bombay Sappers and Miners in Afghanistan and was present at Sibi, the Nari Pass, Kandahar, Harnai and Chapper Rift. During the Egyptian campaign he served with the 10th Railway Company where he was detailed to survey and stake out the line for the Suakin-Berber Railway. On completion of this project the 10th Company commenced work on the 18 inch railway and took charge of the water supply at the base. They later prepared the armoured train that patrolled the line. The railway line was never fully completed, due to the withdrawal of the British Forces, and as a result all the tracks were pulled up and shipped back to England. St Clair served as a Staff Officer during the Boer War and was advanced to a Brevet of Colonel in February 1904, retiring in August 1905. He was re-called for home service during the Great War and served on the General Staff (not entitled to Great War medals), and was Mentioned in Despatches
London Gazette 12 February 1918.