Auction Catalogue

8 December 1994

Starting at 2:00 PM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Westbury Hotel  37 Conduit Street  London  W1S 2YF

Lot

№ 410

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8 December 1994

Estimate: £2,500–£3,000

A scarce C.B., D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Brigadier General C.H.U. Price, Bombay Infantry, the D.S.O. for gallantry in Uganda 1897

ORDER OF THE BATH (Military) breast badge in silver-gilt and enamels, complete with ribbon buckle; DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER, V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; DELHI DURBAR 1911; INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1854-95, 2 clasps, Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89 (Lieut., 27th Bo. Inf.); EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA 1897-99, 2 clasps, Lubwa's, Uganda 1897-98 (Bt. Maj., 27IBo. L. Inf.); 1914-15 STAR (Brig. Gen., I.A.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (Brig.Gen.) applique crowns lacking from reverse centre of C.B., minor enamel chips to wreath of D.S.O., otherwise very fine or better (8)

Sold with a selection of contemporary newspaper cuttings with details of the recipient's exploits in Uganda, 1898-99, together with a copy portrait photograph.

D.S.O., London Gazette, 7 July 1899. 'In recognition of services during the recent operations in Uganda.'

C.B., London Gazette, 22 June, 1914.

Brigadier-General Charles Henry Uvedale Price, C.B., D.S.O., was born in June 1862, third son of General G. Uvedale Price, and commissioned, via Sandhurst, as a Lieutenant into the Welch Regiment in October 1881. He subsequently transferred to the Bengal Staff Corps and was severely wounded during the Burmese operations of 1886-88 (Medal and 2 clasps). As a Captain and Brevet Major with the 1st Baluchis Battalion, 27th Bombay Infantry, he saw extensive action in the Ugandan operations of 1898-99, and commanded the Singo Field Force. Employed in actions against the rebel Waganda in both Ankole and Singo, and the rebel Wanyoro in Unyoro, he gained wide approbation for his bravery at the storming of the enemy stockade at Jeruba. A number of sources bear testament to this gallantry, among them The Army and Navy Gazette which quotes a report sent by Major Martyr via His Majesty's Commissioner for Uganda: 'An act of conspicuous gallantry was performed by Major Price of the 1st Baluchis, in capturing the enemy's outposts with a few Somalis. He approached the post on the 3rd at night, and clearing a breastwork, went in single handed shooting down the men of the picket. The post was composed of ten men, nearly all of whom were killed or taken prisoners, and all their arms and ammunition were seized.' In another despatch from the O.C. Troops in Uganda, again sent via the Commissioner, Price receives further praise for his field work: 'Major Price has done valuable work against the mutineers and rebels. He has been constantly in the field against them in command of an independent force, and has at all times shown the greatest energy and judgment. He has proved himself to be a most valuable officer and twice been mentioned in previous despatches for acts of gallantry in the field.' The insignia, warrant and statutes of Price's D.S.O. were sent to the Commander-in-Chief in India, and presented to him by the G.O.C., Tirah District, on 13 September 1899, at a full-dress parade of the troops at Karachi. He was subsequently D.A.A.G., in India from April 1900, promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in March 1905 and full Colonel in January 1911, the year of the Durbar. He was created a C.B. in the birthday honours of June 1914, acted as Brigade Commander on the General Staff in India between November 1914 and July 1915, and in a similar capacity in Aden between July 1915 and May 1916. Returning to the U.K. soon afterwards, he was President of the Cardiff Area Quartering Committee from May 1917 and retired in September 1920. Brigadier-General Price died on 22 February 1940.