Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria including the collection to Naval Artificers formed by JH Deacon

The Order of the Indian Empire, C.I.E., 3rd type neck badge, gold and enamels, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue, together with original warrant of appointment in the name of Colonel Walter Clarence Black, Indian Army, dated 3 June 1919, extremely fine £320-350

Walter Clarence Black was born in 1867 and was educated at Epsom College and Sandhurst. Originally commissioned into the Sherwood Foresters, he transferred to the Indian Army as a Lieutenant during the course of 1890, and went on to see extensive active service on the North West Frontier over the next decade, winning four clasps to the India General Service 1895-1902 Medal. In addition to service with the Chitral Relief Force in 1895, he participated in the operations on the Samana and in the Kurram Valley during the period August to September 1897; in the Tirah operations of 1897-98, when he was present in the reconnaissance of the Kharmana Defile and at the subsequent action of 7 November 1897, and finally in the operations against the Khani Khel Chamkanis.

Advanced to Captain in early 1899, Black next took up an appointment at the War Office in London, but served at Army H.Q. back in India in a similar capacity between 1904-06 and 1909-12, and gained advancement to Major. The advent of hostilities in August 1914 found him acting as Commandant of the 12th Pioneers, and between 1915-17 he served on the H.Q. Staff, India, being given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel. Black was subsequently responsible for the organization of the first Indian Cadet College at Lahore and commanded it between 1918-19, in which latter year he was awarded the C.I.E. His final appointment, as Military Secretary at Army H.Q. in India between 1919-22, culminated in his appointment as a C.S.I. in the latter year. The General was also appointed Colonel of the 2nd Battalion, the 2nd Bombay Pioneers. He died in December 1930. See Lot 839 for his miniature awards.