A fine R.V.M. and M.S.M. group of eleven awarded to 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. W. J. Dodgson. 19/Hrs.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3712 Serjt: W. J. Dodgson. 19th Hussars); 1914-15 Star (3712 Sq. S.M. (A.S.M.) W. J. Dodgson. Suff. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut. W. J. Dodgson.); 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: W. J. Dodgson. 19/Hrs.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (3712 W.O. Cl. 2, W. J. Dodgson. 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) £1,200-£1,500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Yeomen of the Guard formed by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Denny.

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Provenance: M.S.M. groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2002.

William James Dodgson was born at Plymouth, Devon, on 27 May 1871, and enlisted in the 19th Hussars on 29 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 on 8 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.

On 7 May 1919 Dodgson was appointed to 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 20 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.

Sold with copied discharge papers and other research including a good number of copied photographs.