Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The unique Atbara D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Sergeant, later Major, George Hilton, Scots Guards, attached Egyptian Army, who was wounded at the battle of the Atbara, was commissioned into the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry during service in South Africa, served during the operations in Jubaland and Somaliland in 1901, and was twice wounded on the Western Front with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and retired as a Wing Commander R.A.F. in 1921

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Sergt. G. Hilton. Sco: Gds. (8th. April 1898)); Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (9539 Sgt. G. Hilton. 12/ Bn: Sud: R.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Driefontein, Johannesburg (Lieut: G. Hilton, D of C. L.I.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, Jubaland, Somaliland 1901 (2/Lieut. G. Hilton. D of C. L.I.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. G. Hilton. D.C.M. K.O. Sco. Bord.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major G. Hilton); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 2 clasps, The Atbara, Khartoum, unnamed as issued, minor contact marks, generally good very fine (8) £5,000-£6,000

D.C.M. London Gazette 15 November 1898.

Only two D.C.M.s were awarded to the Scots Guards for the Sudan campaign 1898-99, the other being for Khartoum (Omdurman).

George Hilton was born in November 1872 and attested for the Scots Guards in April 1892. He served during the Sudan campaign whilst attached to the 12th Battalion, Sudanese Regiment, Egyptian Army, and was present at the Battle of the Atbara, 8 April 1898, where he was wounded (Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 22 May 1898), and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal), and at the Battle of Khartoum, 2 September 1898 (Queen’s medal, and Khedive’s medal with two Clasps).

Returning to his parent Regiment, he served with them in South Africa during the Boer War, and was present at the advance on Kimberley, including the actions at Belmont, 23 November 1899, Enslin, Modder River, 28 November 1899, and Magersfontein. He was also present during the operations in the Orange Free State, including the actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, 10 March 1900, Vet River, and Zand River. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 23 May 1900, he was present with his new Regiment in the Transvaal, including the actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Remaining on the African continent, Hilton served in Somaliland from 17 January to 11 October 1901, and took part in operations against the Ogaden Somalis in Jubaland under the command of Colonel Ternan from January to April 1901; he also served during the operations against the Mullah Muhammed-bin-Abdullah in Somaliland under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Swayne from May to July 1901. Promoted Lieutenant on 1 January 1904, he was appointed Adjutant of the Volunteer Battalion (later Territorial Force) on 9 June 1906, continuing in this post for the next three years.

Hilton transferred as a Captain to the King’s Own Scottish Borderers on 17 April 1909, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 7 December 1914. Twice wounded, he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 22 June 1915) and was awarded the Brevet of Major on 3 June 1915, before moving to the Staff as a General Staff Officer on 25 September 1915. Mentioned in Despatches in the 1916 New Year’s Honours’ List (London Gazette 1 January 1916), he served as Brigade Major from 18 May 1916, before returning to the U.K. as a Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at the War Office on 13 June 1917, moving over to the Air Board (later Air Ministry) on 4 February 1918. He retired on 7 September 1921, in the rank of Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force.