Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Great War C.M.G. group of eight awarded to Colonel A. E. O. Congdon, Royal Munster Fusiliers

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89 (Lieut. A. E. O. Congdon, 2nd Bn. R. Muns. Fus.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Major A. E. O. Congdon, R. Muns. Fus.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Major A. E. O. Congdon, 1st Rl. M. Fus.); 1914 Star (Lt. Col. A. E. Congdon, R. Muns. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Col. A. E. O. Congdon); France, Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, gold and enamel, minor damage to obverse central enamel surround on the last, generally very fine or better (8) £2000-2500

C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1918.

Arthur Edmund Osmond Congdon was born in January 1861, the son of T. O. B. Congdon of Clifton, and Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.A. Educated at Clifton College, Arthur was commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Munster Fusiliers in May 1882 and first witnessed active service in the Burma operations of 1885-88 (Medal & 2 clasps).

Advanced to Captain in June 1891, he was embarked for South Africa in late 1901, and saw action in the Transvaal and Orange Free State in the following year (Medal and 4 clasps). A Major by the time of the North-West Frontier operations in 1908, he commanded a force of 13 officers and 392 other ranks in support the defence of border posts around Ali Musjid (Medal & clasp).

Having then been placed on half-pay as a Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1913, Congdon was quickly recalled on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 and served on the Staff throughout the conflict, gaining two “mentions” (London Gazettes 4 June 1917 and 20 May 1918, refer), in addition to the C.M.G. and the French Legion of Honour (London Gazette 10 October 1918, refers).

Onetime Adjutant of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, he died in September 1924; sold with copied research.