Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part II)

A fine C.M.G., M.V.O., O.B.E. group of fourteen to Brigadier-General E. B. Cuthbertson, Monmouthshire Regiment, late Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge conversion from a breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 4th Class, silver-gilt and enamel. rev. officially numbered, ‘912’; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military), 2nd issue; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, original backstraps removed and replaced (Lt., A.& S. Highrs.), edge bruise; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, original backstraps removed and replaced (Lt., A.& S. Hdrs.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (Lt. Col., M.V.O., Mon. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Lt. Col.); Coronation 1911; Coronation 1937; Germany, Hesse-Darmstadt, Order of Philip, 2nd type, Knight 2nd Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel; Russia, Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd Class with swords, by Edouard, St. Petersburg, gold and enamel; Spain, Order of Isabella the Catholic, Commander’s neck badge, gold and enamel; Spain, Order of Military Merit, Knight’s breast badge, gold and white enamel, good very fine and better (14) £1400-1600

Edward Boustead Cuthbertson was born on 13 June 1880 and educated at Marlborough where he was in the Rugby XV. He was commissioned into the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders from the Militia on 18 October 1899 and promoted Lieutenant on 3 July 1901. During the Boer War he served in the advance on Kimberley, including the battle of Magersfontein. In operations in the Orange Free State during February-May 1900, including the operations at Paardeberg and the actions at Poplar Grove and Driefontein. Operations in the Transvaal, east and west of Pretoria during July-November 1900, including the action at Zilikats Nek. Also operations in Transvaal during November 1900 - May 1902 when he was Station Staff Officer. He was placed on Half Pay in February 1904 and Retired Pay in January 1908. During 1908-14, he served as Equerry to Princess Beatrice and was awarded the M.V.O. 4th Class (London Gazette 14 June 1912). This connection with Princess Beatrice, who was wife to Prince Henry of Battenberg and mother of Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain, resulted in the award of several foreign orders. During this time he held the rank of Major in the Isle of Wight Rifles, Prince Henry being Captain and Governor of the island. He later joined the Monmouthshire Regiment and was Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment during 1911-15. With the outbreak of war he sailed with his battalion on the Manchester Importer to Le Havre on 5 November 1914. In May 1915 at Ypres he was wounded and invalided home. He was promoted Brigadier-General in 1916 and retired from the Army in 1922. For his wartime services he was awarded the C.M.G. (London Gazette 16 March 1915), was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 17 February 1915, 1 January 1916) and was awarded the Russian Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd Class (London Gazette 25 August 1915). An active gentleman farmer in the inter war years, in 1928 he was created the High Sheriff of Surrey. In maintaining his links with the Territorial Army, he was active in the formation of the Hampshire Land Defence Volunteers - the Home Guard, prior to and in the early years of the Second World War. For his services in this regard he was awarded the O.B.E. (London Gazette 11 June 1942). He died on 13 May 1942. Sold with copied research.