Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Major H. G. Laing, Seaforth Highlanders, later Chief Constable of East Sussex, mentioned for gallantry in Egypt when he swam across the Suez Canal to obtain a boat under heavy fire

Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar (2nd Lieut. H. G. Lang, 72nd Highrs.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (2nd Lieut. H. G. Lang 72nd Highlanders); Egypt & Sudan 1882-89, 3 clasps, Tel-el-Kebir, The Nile 1884-85, Suakin 1885 (Lieut: H. G. Lang. 1/Sea: Highrs:); Coronation 1911, County & Borough Police (Hugh Graham Lang. Bt. Major. Chief Constable, East Sussex); Khedive’s Star 1882, reverse lower point with small fitment to facilitate ‘cavalry’ style mounting, contact marks and pitting from stars, therefore good fine or better (5) £800-1000

Hugh Graham Lang was first commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Essex Rifles, 7 November 1877, and afterwards transferred to the 91st Foot. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the 72nd Highlanders on 7 January 18880, in succession to Lieutenant C. H. Gaisford, killed in action. He served in Afghanistan in 1880, from March to September, with Sir Frederick Roberts’ force in the Logar and Maidan Valley districts, took part in the march from Kabul to Kandahar in August, and was present at the battle of Kandahar on 1st September (Medal with clasp; Bronze Star).

He served in Egypt in 1882 and was present at the action at Chalouf on 20th August: ‘By this time Major Garnett had passed the village, which was found to be deserted, and had pushed his men across the canal by means of a boat obtained by Lieutenant H. G. Lang, who in a very plucky manner swam the canal, and in the face of a hot fire procured it from under the opposite embankment.’ (London Gazette 8 September 1882 refers). He was afterwards present at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir (Medal with clasp).

He served in the Nile Expedition of 1884-84, and in the Sudan in 1885 with the Mounted Infantry on Special Service at Wady Halfa and Suakin (2 clasps to Egypt Medal). Lang was awarded the Brevet of Major, ‘in recognition of his services during the Egyptian Expedition of 1882’ (London Gazette 18 June 1889 refers).

Major Lang served as Chief Constable of East Sussex from 1894 to 1920. Sold with copied medal roll entries, London Gazettes, and a copied group photograph.