Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Zulu War C.M.G. group of four awarded to Major-General W. P. Collingwood, Royal Scots Fusiliers, late 37th Foot, who commanded the 2nd Brigade of Newdigate’s Division in South Africa in the early summer of 1879: by curious coincidence he was senior officer aboard the steamer Spartan when she was wrecked on the Dog Rocks off the coast of Africa on returning from the Crimea in July 1856, and aboard the steamship City of Paris when she was wrecked on entering Simon’s Bay with the 2/21st in March 1879 - the former occasion leading to a special mention in General Orders ‘for the high courage which animated all ranks on that fearful night’

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s breast badge, gold and enamel, swivel-ring suspension and riband buckle; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Bt. Major Collingwood, 21st Fusiliers), old engraved naming; South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Colonel W. P. Collingwood, 2/21st Foot); Turkish Crimea 1855, British die, Hunt & Roskill pattern (Bt. Major Collingwood, 21st Fusiliers), old engraved naming, the first with chipped enamel on obverse upper right arm, and traces of enamel repair to reverse middle right arm, the second with contact marks, good fine, the remainder generally very fine or better unless otherwise stated (4) £2500-3000

C.M.G. London Gazette 2 November 1880:

‘For services in the late Zulu War.’

William Pole Collingwood was born in November 1829, the third son of H. J. W. Collingwood of Cornhill House, Northumberland. Appointed an Ensign in the 37th Foot in March 1847, he was present at the rebellion in Ceylon in the same year.

Exchanging in the rank of Lieutenant to the 21st Regiment in November 1851, he was advanced to Captain in July 1854 and witnessed active service in the Crimea, being present at the siege and capture of Sebastopol and at the capture on Kinburn, latterly with command of a battalion of the Land Transport Corps (Medal & clasp; Turkish Medal). And, as cited above, he was present in the steamer Spartan when she was wrecked on Dog Rocks off the coast of Africa on 5 July 1856, on which occasion he was senior officer of the troops embarked and won a mention in General Orders:

‘Colonel McMurdo, Deputy-General, Land Transport Corps, desires to express to Captain Collingwood and those he commanded the pride he felt in transmitting to H.R.H. the Commander-in-Chief the proofs given of high courage which animated all ranks on that fearful night, and which were rewarded by the safe rescue of all from their perilous situation.’

H.R.H. the Commander-in-Chief and Lord Panmure, the War Minister, were equally impressed, and Collingwood was given the Brevet of Major in December 1856.

Having then served as an A.D.C. to the Major-General, Infantry Brigade, Shorncliffe and Dover, and as a D.A.Q.M.G. in Egypt, he was advanced to the substantive rank of Major in April 1867.

Having then been promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1874 and been given the Brevet of Colonel in October 1877, he was embarked for South Africa as C.O. of the 2nd Battalion, 21st Foot and, as cited above, was aboard the steamship City of Paris when she was wrecked on the Roman Rocks on entering Simon’s Bay on 21 March 1879 - ‘Such an incident was well calculated to cause alarm and confusion on board. The good discipline of the Fusiliers was shown on this occasion by the steadiness and ready obedience to orders, which called forth the praise of their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Collingwood, and Captain Fulton, commanding the ship.’

Once ashore, Collingwood was given command of the 2nd Brigade in Newdigate’s Division, but in late June he was detached to assume command of Newdigate and Marshall Forts (Medal & clasp). And he was nominated for the Companionship of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George in October 1880.

Placed on the Retired List as a Major-General in January 1886, Collingwood served as a J.P. for Sussex and died in April 1898.

Sold with an old studio portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform, wearing his awards, together with another family image, and a file of research.