Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

The mounted group of eight miniature dress medals worn by Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Greatwood, D.S.O., M.B.E., Lincolnshire Regiment

Distinguished Service Order, silver-gilt and enamel; Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military), type 2; Queen’s Sudan 1896-98; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902; 1914 Star, with clasp; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 2 clasps, The Atbara, Khartoum, mounted court-style, in glazed display frame, together with the recipient’s full-size Defence Medal 1939-45, in its original card forwarding box addressed to ‘Major F. W. Greatwood’ at Shanklin, Isle of Wight, and related uniform riband bar, generally very fine or better

The mounted group of three miniature dress medals worn by Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. Greatwood, Indian Army

British War Medal 1914-20; India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W. Frontier 1919, Waziristan 1921-24; India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37, mounted as worn, together with related uniform riband bar, the first two polished, good fine, the last rather better (Lot) £200-250

Francis William Greatwood first witnessed active service with the Lincolnshire Regiment in the Nile Expedition, when he was present at the battles of the Atbara and Khartoum, and afterwards in the Boer War, when he was employed with the Mounted Infantry and served variously in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal, between January and May 1902. But it was for his subsequent command of the 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment in April 1917 that he was awarded the D.S.O.:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He commanded his battalion with the utmost skill and courage throughout the operations, finally consolidating his position. This position was maintained throughout the day and following night under heavy shell fire. He was constantly rallying and encouraging his men under these trying conditions until seriously wounded’ (London Gazette 16 August 1917 refers).

All in all, Greatwood was wounded on three occasions in the Great War, having originally arrived in France in August 1914. He was also twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 19 October 1914 and 18 December 1917 refer). Having then been placed on the Retired List in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, Greatwood was appointed a Major in the 20th Hampshire (East Wight) Battalion, Home Guard in February 1941.

Hugh Egerton Greatwood was commissioned in the Indian Army in August 1918 and quickly witnessed active service with the 6th Rajput Rifles in the Third Afghan War and in Waziristan 1922-24. Advanced to Major in August 1936, at the time of his participation in further operations on the North West Frontier, he died on active service on 22 June 1941, while attached to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment. He is buried in the Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery.

Francis William Greatwood first witnessed active service with the Lincolnshire Regiment in the Nile Expedition, when he was present at the battles of the Atbara and Khartoum, and afterwards in the Boer War, when he was employed with the Mounted Infantry and served variously in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal, between January and May 1902. But it was for his subsequent command of the 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment in April 1917 that he was awarded the D.S.O.:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He commanded his battalion with the utmost skill and courage throughout the operations, finally consolidating his position. This position was maintained throughout the day and following night under heavy shell fire. He was constantly rallying and encouraging his men under these trying conditions until seriously wounded’ (London Gazette 16 August 1917 refers).

All in all, Greatwood was wounded on three occasions in the Great War, having originally arrived in France in August 1914. He was also twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 19 October 1914 and 18 December 1917 refer). Having then been placed on the Retired List in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, Greatwood was appointed a Major in the 20th Hampshire (East Wight) Battalion, Home Guard in February 1941.

Hugh Egerton Greatwood was commissioned in the Indian Army in August 1918 and quickly witnessed active service with the 6th Rajput Rifles in the Third Afghan War and in Waziristan 1922-24. Advanced to Major in August 1936, at the time of his participation in further operations on the North West Frontier, he died on active service on 22 June 1941, while attached to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment. He is buried in the Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery.

The group of three miniatures and related ribbon bar to Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. Greatwood is withdrawn from this lot. Estimate remains as published