Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes

Eleven: Sergeant-Major W. J. Dodgson, Yeomen of the Guard, late 19th Hussars and a Captain and Adjutant of the Suffolk Yeomanry, with whom he fought in Gallipoli

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (3712 Serjt., 19/Hrs.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3712 Serjt., 19th Hussars); 1914-15 Star (3712 Sq. S.M. (A.S.M.), Suff. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.); Royal Victorian Medal, E.II.R., silver; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3712 S.S. Mjr., 19/Hrs.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R. (3712 W.O. Cl. 2, 19 H.), mounted as worn, excepting the R.V.M., the earlier awards with contact wear, edge bruising and polished, good fine, the remainder rather better (11) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes.

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See Colour Plate IX

William James Dodgson was born in May 1871 and enlisted in the 19th Hussars in December 1890. A Sergeant by the time of the Boer War, he participated in operations in the Orange River Colony and in Natal, including the Defence of Ladysmith and the action at Laing’s Nek; and afterwards in the operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, including the action at Belfast. He was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in April 1909.

The outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 found Dodgson being attached to the 1/1st Suffolk Yeomanry as a Squadron Sergeant-Major, and he entered the Egyptian theatre of war in October 1915, afterwards participating in the Gallipoli operations and being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. See Staff Officer, the Diaries of Walter Guinness (1st Lord Moyne) 1914-18, for a useful account of the Suffolk Yeomanry in action on the Peninsula. Dodgson latterly acted as a Captain and Adjutant of the 2/1st Suffolk Yeomanry and was awarded the Silver War Badge.

In May 1919 Dodgson joined the King’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard and was advanced to Sergeant-Major in that illustrious corps in December 1945. He was awarded his M.S.M. in October of the following year and the R.V.M. in January 1958. The long served Dodgson died at Richmond, Surrey in March 1959, aged 88 years; see Ian McInnes’ The Annuity M.S.M. 1847-1953 for further details and photograph - Appendices 7-9 provide full background details to M.S.M. awards to the Yeomen of the Guard.