The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards

Three: Captain H. A. M. Napier, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

1914-15 Star (Lieut., A. & S. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); together with a Henley Regatta Ladies Challenge Cup Medal, 46mm., silver-gilt (H. A. M. Napier 1910); Eton Prize Medal, 39mm., silver, reverse inscribed, ‘H. A. M. Napier, Trial Eights, Eton 1910’, in case of issue, inside of lid fitted with a silver shield listing the crew and their weights, ‘Regatta’ medal with some edge bruising, otherwise nearly extremely fine (5)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards.

View
Collection

Henry Andrew Muter Napier was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 9th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders on 2 September 1914 and was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant on 7 September 1914. He landed in France with the battalion and was wounded at Ypres on 9 May 1915. Napier rejoined the battalion in October 1915 and was appointed to command ‘D’ Company until 29 November 1915. In December he was seconded to the Royal Engineers, Army Signalling Service, being posted to the 49th Division Signal Company. Napier was promoted to Lieutenant and Temporary Captain, Royal Engineers, on 31 December 1915, and was confirmed as Captain on 22 May 1917. In July 1920 he returned to the 9th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. He resigned his commission whilst retaining his rank in November 1922.

With a large photograph of the Eton Rugby team, with members identified and which includes Napier; a portrait photograph of Captain Napier in later life; several documents relating to Mrs Catherine Frances Sydney Napier’s service as an Air Raid Warden during the Second World War; together with a quantity of photographs, letters, newspaper cuttings and papers relating to their son, Sub Lieutenant Robert David Napier, who served in the R.N.V.R. in W.W.2, and who as a Pilot was lost at sea during a take off from the escort carrier H.M.S. Ruler on 23 May 1945, aged 21 years. A fascinating archive.