Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Victorian O. St. J. group of seven awarded to Colonel W. B. Allin, Royal Army Service Corps, who was four times mentioned in despatches in a career spanning the Second Afghan War to the Boer War, via the Nile Expedition of 1884-85

The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s (Brother’s) breast badge, silver; Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Surgn. W. B. Allen, M.B., A.M.D.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Surgn. W. B. Allen, Med. Staff); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (Colonel W. B. Allin, R.A.M.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Colonel W. B. Allin, M.B., R.A.M.C.); Jubilee 1897; Khedive’s Star 1882, silver, note surname spelling ‘Allen’ on the second and third, and incorrect date on the Khedive’s Star, the first three with contact marks and occasional edge bruising, good fine, the remainder very fine or better (7) £800-1000

William Briggs Allin was born in Great Torrington, Devon, and, having qualified as a M.B. Glas., L.R.C.P. Ed., L.R.C.S. Ed., entered the Army Medical Department as a Surgeon in February 1877. Following active service in the Afghan War of 1878-80 (Medal), he was present in the Nile Expedition of 1884-85 (Medal & clasp; Khedive’s Star), when he had charge of the Field Hospital at Gakdul Wells, services that won him a mention in despatches (London Gazette 26 August 1885, refers), and special promotion to Surgeon-Major.

Next present in the Isazai Expedition of 1892, he was advanced to Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel in the following year, and served as Principal Medical Officer of the Field Army in Natal, and on the Lines of Communication, in the Boer War (Queen’s Medal & 6 clasps; King’s Medal & 2 clasps), gaining three further “mentions” from Sir Redvers Buller on 30 March, 19 June and 9 November 1900 (London Gazette 8 February 1901, refers), and special promotion to Colonel in November 1900.

He died in India in September 1903; sold with copied research.