Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A ‘Visit to India’ M.V.O. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. ‘Buster’ Buist, Commandant, Corps of Guides

The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 4th Class breast badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamels, the reverse officially numbered ‘876’; India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Lieut. A. H. Buist. 25th Pjb. Infy.); 1914 Star (Maj. A. H. Buist, Cps. of Guides); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. A. H. Buist); Delhi Durbar 1911, mounted as worn, very fine or better (6) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Awards to the Indian Army from the Collection of AM Shaw.

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Arthur Hunter Buist was born on 3 January 1871, and was first commissioned from the Militia as 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Fusiliers on 9 September 1891. He became Lieutenant in February 1894 and transferred to the Indian Staff Corps in August 1896, joining the 25th Punjabis in April 1897. He took part in the campaign on the Punjab Frontier 1897-98, including operations with the Tochi Field Force (Medal with clasp). Buist transferred to the Queen’s Own Corps of Guides in 1899, being promoted to Captain in July 1903 and Major in September 1909. He took part in the Durbar celebrations of 1911 and was appointed M.V.O. 4th Class on 10 January 1912, on the occasion of their Majesties Visit to India 1911-12. He was in France in 1914 with the 7th Indian Division, on the North West Frontier (Tochi Vallety) in 1915-16, and subsequently commanded the Guides Infantry in Palestine in Allenby’s campaign.

According to his obituary, ‘Buster,’ as he was known to all his friends, was a most lovable character. He excelled at all games which came naturally to him. It was acknowledged, generally, that he was one of the finest polo players of his day. He was a scratch golfer, and won the Northern India golf championship as a subaltern, a captain, and a major. At tennis he excelled also, but at his best there was no one in Northern India to extend him, or he might have risen to any height. He was the last Commandant of the Corps of Guides, which was split up into two separate units, Cavalry and Infantry, during the 1914-18 war. Lieutenant-Colonel Buist died at Hove on 28 June 1946, aged 75.

Sold with two studio portrait photographs, one in uniform, one in mufti, and accompanied by a quantity of research including copied regimental photographs.