Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine C.M.G. and ‘Neuve Chapelle 1915’ D.S.O. group of eleven awarded to Brigadier-General C. G. W. Hunter, Royal Engineers, Chief Engineer XII Army Corps

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s breast badge, converted for neck wear, silver-gilt and enamels, enamel chips to both centres; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, complete with top suspension brooch, some chipping to wreaths; India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Lieutt. C. G. W. Hunter. R.E.); China 1900, no clasp (Captn: C. G. W. Hunter. R.E.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04, Jidballi, high relief bust (Capt: C. G. W. Hunter, R.E.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Major C. G. W. Hunter. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Brig. Gen. C. G. W. Hunter.); Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, gold and enamels; Serbia, Order of the White Eagle, 4th Class with swords, silver-gilt and enamels; U.S.A., Military Order of the Dragon (Capt. Charles G. W. Hunter Royal Engineers No. 784.) complete with Pagoda top suspension brooch, replacement ribbon, the last ten mounted court style for display, generally good very fine or better (11) £5000-6000

D.S.O. London Gazette 8 May 1915: ‘For conspicuous ability and gallantry on many occasions, especially on the 10 to 14 March, 1915, at Neuve Chapelle. He was in command of two companies, and succeeded in establishing a strong breastwork line under very difficult circumstances, whilst exposed to heavy shell and rifle fire.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 13 September 1901 (China); and expression of thanks from the Commander-in-Chief in India for ‘excellent work performed by you in China during 1901-02, whilst with the party under the charge of Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. Manifold, Indian Medical Service, which left Pekin towards the end of September 1901 to carry out a reconnaissance in Sau-ch’uan and the neighbouring provinces.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 8 May and 22 June 1916; 1 January and 6 December 1916; 28 November 1917; 11 June 1918.

Charles George Woodburn Hunter was born on 21 December 1871, and enlisted into the army as 2nd Lieutenant on 25 July 1890; Lieutenant 25 July 1893; Captain 21 May 1901. He served in the Tirah Expeditionary Force, as Assistant Field Engineer, February to April, 1898 (Medal and Clasp); in China 1900, as Special Service Officer (Despatches, Medal); in East Africa 1903-04, on the Staff as Special Service Officer, in operations in Somaliland and action at Judballi (Medal and two Clasps).

Served during the Great War on the Staff, in France and Belgium (Indian Corps), September 1914 to November 1915; Salonica (Indian Engineers), November 1915 to December 1917; Chief Engineer XII Army Corps 25 December 1917 to 13 January 1919 (Brevets of Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel; despatches 6 times; Legion of Honour, 4th Class; Order of the White Eagle, 4th Class with swords; D.S.O. for Neuve Chapelle 1915, and C.M.G. 1918). After further service in India and at Home, Brigadier-General Hunter retired on an Indian pension on 1 July 1923. He died at Hythe, Kent, on 27 February 1932.