The Great War D.S.O. group of five awarded to Colonel E. C. Hodgson, Indian Medical Service, M.O. of the 38th Central India Horse and later Staff Surgeon of the Mhow Cavalry Brigade in France and Palestine

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (Capt. E. C. Hodgson, I.M.S.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. E. C. Hodgson); Jubilee 1935, nearly extremely fine (5) £1400-1800

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1918.

M.I.D. London Gazette 28 May 1918 (Haig’s despatch of 7 April 1918 - ‘Commanding Ambala Cavalry Field Ambulance’) and 22 January 1919 (Allenby’s despatch of 23 October 1918).

Earnest (changed spelling to Ernest in 1907) Charles Hodgson was born on 22 October 1878 and studied medicine at Bart’s; M.R.C.S. 1902; L.R.C.P. Lond. 1902. He entered the Indian Medical Service as a Lieutenant on 30 January 1904, becoming Captain, January 1907. D.T.M. Lond. 1909; D.T.M. and H. Cantab. 1910; appointed Officer in charge of the Central Malaria Bureau, India, 1912-13, and as special Malaria Officer to report on the various sites suggested for the ‘new Imperial City of Delhi’, 1912; sent to the Government of Madras to start an Anti-malarial Campaign, Madras City, 1913-14.

Recalled to Military duty and appointed Medical Officer of the 38th Central India Horse and later Staff Surgeon of the 5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade. Served in France from December 1914 to 1918, and with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Palestine in 1918. Promoted to Major in July 1915, Lieutenant-Colonel in July 1923, and Brevet Colonel and Honorary Surgeon to the King in September 1929.

Together with a good quantity of original documentation including Warrant and statutes for D.S.O., two M.I.D. Certificates,commission documents, various medical diplomas, correspondence on medical matters, ‘Confidential’ narrative of operations of the 5th Cavalry Division in September and October 1918 (Nazareth, Haifa-Acre, Damascus, and Advance on Aleppo), and a good number of photographs. Also sold with his mounted set of miniature medals, a large hardwood cigar box with carved I.M.S. crest on lid, 28 x 17.5 cm, and two presentation pieces:

i. Silver salver by Mappin & Webb, London, hallmarks for Sheffield 1916, 32 x 32 cm, inscribed ‘Presented to Lieutenant-Colonel E. C. Hodgson, I.M.S. on the occasion of his marriage in January 1918. By some friends of the Central India Horse’, additionally inscribed with C.I.H. crest and 18 facsimile signatures.

ii. Travelling table clock by Wilson & Sharp, Edinburgh, in the form of an oversized silver plated open-faced pocket watch, 10cm diameter, the white enamelled dial with roman numerals and subsidiary second hand dial, contained in silver mounted leather travelling case, approx. 17 x 14.5 cm overall, hallmarks indistinct through polishing, the silver mount inscribed ‘To Major E. C. Hodgson, I.M.S. Commanding Ambala Cavalry Field Ambulance. From his Officers January 1918’, additionally inscribed with 4 facsimile signatures.