Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A well-documented Second-War ‘Customs and Excise Inspector’s’ I.S.O., Great War M.C. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel D. Lindsay, Northumberland Fusiliers, later Lancashire Fusiliers, who served with the Volunteer Company, Scottish Rifles during the Boer War, and was wounded in action during the Great War

The Imperial Service Order, G.VI.R., silver, gold, and enamel, reverse engraved ‘Lt.-Colonel David Lindsay, M.C. 12th. June 1941.’; Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Capt. D. Lindsay.’; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (7939 Cpl. D. Lindsay. Vol: Coy. Scot: Rifles.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. D. Lindsay. North’d. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. D. Lindsay.) minor edge bruise to BWM, good very fine or better (6) £1,200-£1,600

I.S.O. London Gazette 12 June 1941: David Lindsay, Esq., M.C., Inspector, First Class, Board of Customs and Excise.

M.C. London Gazette 17 April 1917:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He went forward through a heavy hostile barrage to the new front line and returned with most valuable information. Later, he took command of a company, and was largely responsible for saving a critical situation.’

David Lindsay was born in Glasgow on 19 October 1878 and in civilian life was employed as an Inland Revenue Officer. Following the outbreak of the Boer War he attested for the Scottish Rifles at Glasgow on 8 March 1900, was promoted Corporal on 8 March 1901, and served in South Africa with the 2nd Volunteer Service Company, attached 2nd Battalion, Scottish Rifles, from 15 March 1901 to 19 May 1902 (also entitled to the two date clasps to his Q.S.A.). He was discharged on 19 May 1902, after 2 years and 80 days’ service.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Lindsay was commissioned Lieutenant in the Northumberland Fusiliers on 17 December 1914, was promoted Captain on 1 April 1915, and served with the 16th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 22 November 1915. He was wounded on the night of 23 December by gun shot to the left thigh, whilst commanding ‘C’ Company, thus being the battalion’s first officer casualty, and was evacuated to England on 31 December 1915. After being discharged from hospital he returned to France on 10 November 1916, and served as a Brigade Intelligence Officer from 23 February to 9 September 1917, being promoted Major on 1 July 1917. He transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers on 27 February 1918, and served with both the 16th and 15th Battalions for the remainder of the War. For his services during the Great War with the Northumberland Fusiliers he was awarded the Military Cross, and was presented with his M.C. by H.M. the King at Buckingham Palace on 26 September 1918. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 May 1921, he transferred in this rank to the Reserve of Officers on 31 January 1922.

Returning to his civilian job with the Board of Customs and Excise, Lindsay was advanced Inspector, First Class, and was created a Companion of the Imperial Service Order in 1941, being invested with the I.S.O. by H.M. the King at Buckingham Palace on 15 July 1941. He died in Deepdene, Surrey, on 1 October 1961.

Sold together with a large quantity of original documentation and letters, including the Bestowal Document for the Imperial Service Order, dated 12 June 1941, together with a copy of the Statutes of the Order; Commission Document appointing the recipient a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Lancashire Fusiliers (Regular Army Reserve of Officers), dated 31 January 1922; Document appointing the recipient a Freeman Citizen of Glasgow; the recipient’s Officer’s Record of Service Blue Book; various War Office and Central Chancery letters regarding his military appointments and the awards and investitures for both the I.S.O. and M.C.; various letters congratulating him on the award of the I.S.O.; a large quantity of postcard and other photographs; and a large quantity of copied research.

Sold also with various certificates and ephemera relating to Alan William Lindsay.