Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Boer War D.C.M. and Great War ‘Mesopotamia, attack on Dujailah Redoubt March 1916’ Second Award Bar group of eight awarded to Captain W. G. Hudson, 1/6th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R., with Second Award Bar (2208 Serjt: W. G. Hudson. 1st Devon: Regt.); India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (2208 Sergt. W. G. Hudson. 1st Bn. Devon: Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (2208 Sgt. W. G. Hudson, Devon: Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2208 Clr-Serjt: W. G. Hudson. Devon: Regt.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. W. G. Hudson.); Coronation 1911 (2208 Sergt. Mjr. W. G. Hudson 6th Bn. Devon Regt.) privately engraved naming; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (2208 C. Sjt: W. G. Hudson. Devon Regt.) medals unmounted, contact marks and minor edge nicks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (8) £7,000-£9,000

Provenance: Spink, July 2010.

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901.

D.C.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 20 October 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and resource in getting up ammunition and supplies under heavy fire during an action.’
Annotated Gazette states ‘Es Sinn 8.3.16’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 10 September 1901; 10 October 1916; 27 August 1918; and 5 June 1919.

William George Hudson, was born at Karachi, India (now Pakistan) on 31 May 1870, enlisted into the Devonshire Regiment in November 1888 and served with the Regiment in Egypt until the end of 1892, being promoted to Corporal in December of that year. He arrived in India in January 1893, was promoted to Sergeant in September 1895, and served with the North West Frontier Force in Tirah, July 1897. He served with the Regiment in South Africa from September 1899 to January 1902, and was present at the Defence of Ladysmith, operations in Natal, including the action at Elandslaagte, 21 October 1899, and operations in the Transvaal, including the action at Belfast, 26-27 August 1900 (awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Mentioned in Despatches). He was posted to the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, in April 1904, and received his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in November 1906.

Hudson served with the 6th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment during the Great War in the Mesopotamia Theatre from 5 January 1916 to 11 November 1918, being thrice Mentioned in Despatches and awarded a Bar to his Distinguished Conduct Medal, for the period in which the Battalion was part of the 36th Brigade involved in the unsuccessful attack on the Dujaila redoubt, 8-9 March 1916, as part of the efforts to break the siege of Kut, in which the Brigade suffered 24 per cent casualties. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, 13 June 1916; appointed Adjutant, 24 August 1916; returned with the unit to India, 3 April 1919, demobilized back in England, 5 November 1919; Captain, 6th Devonshire Regiment Territorial Army Reserve, 26 June 1920; appointed Officer-Commanding Barnstaple Depot, 1920; retired in May 1927, after 38 years’ service. He combined these duties with a post as Physical Education Instructor at Barnstaple Boys’ Grammar School before finally severing his links with the Regiment to become a publican. In the 1930s he was ‘mine host’ at the “Golden Fleece” in Gloucester. Captain Hudson died in Gloucester in 1937.


To be sold with the following original related items and documents:
3 Territorial Army Rifle Association prize medals, silver (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1924), reverse engraved ‘Lord Lieutenant’s Challenge Shield 1925 Captain Hudson’; bronze (2), reverses engraved ‘High Sheriff’s Challenge Shield 1925 Captain Hudson’ and ‘Lord Lieutenant’s Challenge Shield 1926/2nd/ 6th Bn Devonshire Regt.’; original commission appointing William George Hudson as 2nd Lieutenant, Territorial Force, dated 13 June 1916; certificate appointing the recipient Quarter Master, Territorial Force, dated 29 June 1920; three Mentioned in Despatches Certificates, dated 24 August 1916 (Lt-Gen. Sir Percy Lake), 15 April 1918 (Lt-Gen. W. R. Marshall), and 7 February 1919 (Lt-Gen. Sir W. R. Marshall); and a fair copy of the recipient’s record of service, together with other copied research.