Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The mounted group of fourteen miniature dress medals attributed to Brigadier-General Montagu ‘Monty’ Grant Wilkinson, King’s Own Scottish Borderers

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, gold and enamel, ring suspension; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, gold and enamel, ring suspension, The Royal Victorian Order, silver-gilt and enamel; Egypt & Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Gemaizah 1888; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Rel. of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, carriage broken between 2nd & 3rd clasps; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 1 clasp, South Africa 1902; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1902, silver; Coronation 1911, silver; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Khedive’s Star 1884-6, mounted court style as worn, contained in leather case, some contact marks and enamel damage, nearly very fine and better (14) £300-360

Montagu Grant Wilkinson was born in 1857 and educated at Harrow and the Royal Military College. He was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion 25th Regiment in 1878.

During 1884-85 he took part in the Nile Expedition serving on the Staff as Transport Officer. In 1888 as Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, he served in the Suakin Field Force, seeing action at Gemaizah. For his services there he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 11 January 1889).

During the Second Boer War he served on General Kelly-Kenny’s Staff as Assistant Provost Marshal, 6th Division in the Orange Free State, February-May 1900, seeing service at the relief of Kimberley, battle of Paardeberg, and the actions at Poplar Grove and Driefontein. He then commanded the 1st Battalion K.O.S.B. in Transvaal, April-May 1902. After the war he was placed on Half Pay and was Commandant of the School of Musketry in South Africa, after which he was Commandant of the Queen Victoria School, Dunblane, 1908-14.

On the outbreak of war he returned to the Colours and commanded the 44th (Highland) Infantry Brigade, 15th Division in France and Flanders, 20 March 1915-21 April 1916, which included service at the battle of Loos and he was again mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 1 January 1916; 15 June 1916, refer). Created a C.B. in 1916 and C.M.G. in 1919.

In 1919 he was appointed a Gentleman Usher to King George V, a post which he held until 1927, when he was appointed an Extra Gentleman Usher, a post he held until the King’s death in 1936. He was then appointed Extra Gentleman Usher to King Edward VIII until that monarch abdicated, after which he was appointed to that same position with King George VI. Brigadier-General Wilkinson died at Bracknell, Berkshire on 28 November 1943; sold with copied research.