Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The fine group of orders and medals awarded to Major-General Sir William Western, K.C.M.G., C.B., Royal West Kent Regiment, who was wounded in 1897 on the Punjab Fontier and again during the Great War

The Order of St. Michael and St. George, K.C.M.G., neck badge and breast star in silver, gilt and enamels, minor chipping to centre of badge and suspension ring a replacement, Order of The Bath (Military) C.B., neck badge in silver-gilt and enamels; Egypt 1882-89, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Capt., 1/Rl. W. Kent R.) some pitting from star, India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Major, 1st Bn. Ryl. W. Kent R.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Cape Colony (Lt. Col., R.W. Kent R.); King’s South Africa, 2 clasps (Lt. Col., C.B., RI. W. Kent Rgt.); 1914-15 Star (Col.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Maj-Gen.) the Victory with name erased, France, Croix de Guerre, with bronze palm; Khedive’s Star 1884-6; Egypt, Order of The Nile, 2nd class, neck badge and breast star in silver, gilt and enamels; Italy, Order of The Crown, 3rd class neck badge in gold and enamels, some damage to central gold band, Vatican, Equestrian Order of The Holy Sepulchre, Knight Commander, neck badge and breast star in silver-gilt and enamels by Cravanzola, some enamel damage to star, all mounted for display on a blue velvet covered board, very fine and better (17) £2500-3000

See Colour Plate XV.

Ex. Squadron Leader Etkins Collection, Glendining’s September 1986.

Major-General Sir William George Balfour Western was educated at Victoria College, Jersey, and entered the 50th Regiment in 1879. He served with the 1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment in the Nile Expedition, 1884-85; Malakand and Buner campaigns, 1897-98, where he was wounded by a gun shot near Inayat Kili on 30 September 1897 and mentioned in Sir Bindon Blood’s despatch; in the South African War he commanded the 2nd Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment until April, 1901, when he assumed command of a mobile column which he held until the end of hostilities. He was twice mentioned in despatches and created C.B. During the Great War he served in Gallipoli from July 1915 to January 1916; Greek Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, European Turkey and the Islands of the Aegean Sea from January to March 1916; Italy from November 1917 to April 1918; Egyptian Expeditionary Force from April to October 1918. He was wounded, mentioned in despatches six times, promoted Major-General and created K.C.M.G. It is noted on the medal index card that he was issued with duplicate Great War medals. See Lot 955 for corresponding miniatures.