Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The mounted group of four miniature dress medals attributed to Colonel R. K. Ridgeway, V.C., C.B., Bengal Staff Corps, late Gurkha Rifles, comprising: Victoria Cross; Order of the Bath (Military), gold and enamels, with gold riband buckle; India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Naga 1879-80, N.E. Frontr. 1891; India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-8, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-8, mounted as worn, contained in Spink and Son Ltd., 17 & 18 Piccadilly, London W. red leather case, good very fine or better (4) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Dress Miniature V.C. Groups from the Collection of the Late David Harvey.

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Ex Mark Cline Miniature Medals, catalogue No. 18, Summer 2002; sold with original letter from the recipient’s grand daughter, Doreen Ridgeway, to the Royal School, in which she offers the above described miniature dress medals to the school collection (dated at Burnham Ashley, Maidenhead, Berkshire on 7 February 1938).

Richard Kirby Ridgeway was born at Oldcastle, County Meath, Ireland in August 1848 and was educated privately and at the R.M.C. Sandhurst. Gazetted to the 96th Regiment as an Ensign in January 1868, he was advanced to Lieutenant in February 1870. Two years later he transferred to the Indian Staff Corps and served as Adjutant of the 44th Gurkha Rifles from 1874-80, which period witnessed active service in the first and second Naga Hills expeditions. Severely wounded in the 1879 operations, he was awarded the V.C. for the following deeds:

‘For conspicuous gallantry throughout the attack on Konona on 22 November 1879, more especially in the final assualt when, under a heavy fire from the enemy, he rushed up to a barricade and attempted to tear down the plank serving it to enable him to effect an entrance, in which act he received a very severe rifle shot wound in the left shoulder’ (London Gazette 11 May 1880 refers).

Ridgeway passed Staff College in 1883, was advanced to Major in 1888 and commanded the 44th Gurkha Rifles 1891-95, during which latter period he served in the Manipur expedition. Further active service followed during the period 1897-98, when he acted as A.A.G., 2nd Division in the Tirah and Samana operations. He was created a C.B. in 1905, retired in the following year and died at Harrogate in October 1924.