Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The mounted group of ten miniature dress medals attributed to Colonel Henry Wynter Wagstaff, Royal Engineers

The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, C.S.I., Companion’s badge, 9ct. gold, silver and enamel, with cameo centre, complete with gold top bar; Military Cross, G.V.R., silver; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan North West Frontier 1919; Defence and War Medals; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, mounted as worn, very fine and better (10) £350-450

The recipient’s full-size and miniature medals, ex Bonhams 9 December 1997.

Henry Wynter Wagstaff was born on 19 July 1890, the son of a civil engineer who worked on the Burma Railways. He was educated at Woodbridge Grammar School and the R.M.A. Woolwich. Graduating in 1910 with sufficient marks to become a ‘Sapper’, he sailed for India in 1913. Posted to the frontier as Assistant Garrison Engineer at Kohat, he arrived in time to take part in a punitive expedition. He was subsequently appointed Garrison Engineer at Hangu, Parachinar and Miranshah. It is recorded he loved travelling through the frontier region - employing motorcycle, horse or camel as appropriate! The outbreak of hostilities found him laid up in hospital with paratyphoid but he was sufficiently recovered the following year to return to the Frontier and participate in minor operations in the Tochi Valley. In 1916 he was ordered to Karachi to join the 3rd Sappers and Miners who were en route to Mesopotamia. There he took part in the capture of Kut, being mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Cross. He went on to serve in the advance to Baghdad and gained a Staff appointment in 1st Corps H.Q. In the Spring of 1918 he was ordered back to India and assumed command of a newly raised sapper company in Quetta but was posted as Adjutant to the 2nd Division on the outbreak of the Third Afghan War where he served in the Lines of Communication between Peshwar and the Khyber Pass. Thereafter until 1946 he was employed on railway engineering work. By the Second World War he had attained the rank of Colonel. and his smooth running of the Indian Railway system during the war years brought about the award of the C.S.I. in 1946. Leaving India in 1946; Colonel Wagstaff died on 13 September 1992, at the ripe old age of 102. Enjoying life, it is recorded he was drinking champagne with visitors on the day before he died. With copied photograph, M.I.D. certificate, death certificate, will, and obituary.