Auction Catalogue

2 April 2004

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1262

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2 April 2004

Hammer Price:
£4,000

A very rare Great War ‘Kut-al-Amara’ operations D.S.C. group of seven awarded to Captain A. R. C. Poyntz, Royal Indian Marine

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R.; Africa General Service 1902-56,
1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (Sub-Lieut., R.I.M.S. ‘Hardinge’); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (Lieut., R.I.M.S. Minto); 1914-15 Star (Lieut., R.I.M.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut., R.I.M.); Royal Humane Society, Small Bronze Medal (Successful) (Lieut., R.I.M. 27th Feb. 1916) this last lacking ribbon buckle, generally good very fine and rare (7) £1800-2200

D.S.C. London Gazette 11 August 1917: For services in Mesopotamia 1917. Awarded in recognition of services at the Battle of Kurnah and subsequent actions when he commanded one of the small river gunboats. The Royal Indian Marine received only 10 D.S.C.’s during World War I.

M.I.D.
London Gazette 5 April 1916 - Despatch of General John Nixon, for operations at Amara , 31st May to 4th June 1915 [including the battle of Kurnah].

R.H.S.
Case No. 42,504 : On the 27th February 1916, a Sepoy accidentally fell from a barge into the river Tigris, the depth being 20 feet with a strong current. Pontyz at once jumped in and succeeded in saving him.

Alban Rahere Castleton Poyntz was born in London on 22 July 1886. He was educated at the Mercantile Marine School Ship
Convoy and served a 3 year apprenticeship with Messrs R.W. Leyland & Co., serving on the Watertree, Speke and Holewood. He joined the Royal Indian Marine as a Sub Lieutenant on 23 October 1907 and was appointed to the Indian Marine Ships Hardinge (November 1909 to April 1910), Palinuras (April to May 1910), re-appointed to Hardinge May to December 1910. Promoted to Lieutenant 23 October 1911 and subsequently appointed to the following Indian Marine Ships: Minto (April 1913 to April 1914), Dufferin (April to May 1914), Minto (May 1914 to February 1915).

Following a period of leave he was seconded to ‘Dunsterforce’ on 31 May 1915, and took part in the operations at Amara 31 May to 4 June 1915. He continued to serve in this force until 3 April 1917. He was promoted Commander in December 1925, and Captain (Retd) in December 1934. Recalled for service during WWII, he served as Shipping Control Port Officer and Liaison Officer at various Indian Ports and Naval Bases.