Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A very fine and well-documented Great War C.M.G. and ‘Mohmand Expedition 1908’ D.S.O. group of ten awarded to Brigadier-General F. W. B. Gray, 57th Wilde’s Rifles, late Royal Berkshire Regiment; he commanded Wilde’s Rifles in France until severely wounded, 26 October 1914

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with integral riband buckle; Distinguished Service Order, E.VII.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar, pin removed; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1894-5 (Lieut: F. W. B. Gray 4th Punjab Infy); China 1900, no clasp (Captn: F. W. B. Gray. 4th Pjb. Infy.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Major F. W. B. Gray 57th Rfls F.F.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Lt. Col. F. W. Gray, D.S.O., 57/Rfls.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Brig. Gen. F. W. B. Gray.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed; United States of America, Military Order of the Dragon, China 1900 (Frederick William Barton Gray. 4th Punjab Infantry) complete with worn but original embroidered riband and integral top Pagoda suspension brooch, minor enamel chips to centres of the first two, some light contact marks, otherwise nearly extremely fine (10) £5,000-£7,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 57th Wilde’s Rifles (Frontier Force).

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C.M.G. London Gazette 18 February 1915.

D.S.O. London Gazette 14 August 1908:
‘In recognition of services in the recent operations against the Zakka Khel and Mohmands, on the North West Frontier of India, in 1908.’

M.I.D. G.G.O. 521A of 1908.

M.I.D. London Gazette 14 January 1915 (Field Marshal Sir John French); 29 March 1917 (Lieutenant-General G. F. Milne); and 25 October 1917 (Lieutenant-General G. F. Milne).

Fredeick William Barton Gray was born on 7 February 1867, son of the Rev. Thomas T. Gray, of Carn Park, County Westmeath. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and at Sandhurst from September 1887 to July 1888, from where he entered the Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 22 August 1888. He became Lieutenant in the Indian Staff Corps on 22 January 1890. Appointed to the 4th Punjab Infantry, he accompanied the Waziristan Expedition of 1894-95 (Medal with clasp). Promoted to Captain on 22 August 1899, he served with the 3rd Brigade, China Field Force in China from August 1900 to June 1902, including the action at Tai Tao Ying on 22 April 1901 (Medal). In the renumbering in 1903 the 4th Punjab Infantry took the title of 57th Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force). Promoted to Major in August 1906, he was officiating in command of the 57th Rifles F.F. and took part in the operations in the Mohmand country including the engagements of Matta, 24 April 1908, and of Kargha, 24 May 1908, being mentioned in despatches and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (Medal with clasp).

Gray was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, in command of the 57th Rifles on 8 March 1914, and proceeded to France on 26 September 1914, as part of the 7th (Ferozepore) Infantry Brigade, 3rd (Lahore) Division. He was severely wounded on 26 October 1914 when an enemy shell burst near the window of the Regimental Headquarters. Evacuated to England he returned to France on the day before the disastrous attack on 26 April 1915, at Ypres when the battalion only came out 216 strong following a severe fight and gas attack. He was appointed Officer Commanding Troops, Lemnos and Composite Brigade, September 1916 to May 1917; General Officer Commanding Troops Mudros, June 1917; General Officer Commanding Troops Lemnos, July 1917; Officer Commanding Troops Lemnos, August 1917; General Officer Commanding Troops Mudros, September to November 1917. He held the temporary rank of Brigadier-General from 15 April 1916 to 27 November 1917, whilst Commanding a Brigade in Egypt, and from 13 May 1918 to 24 May 1919, whilst Commanding the Bareilly Brigade in India. He was given the Brevet of Colonel on 1 January 1918, and retired as Brigadier-General in 1921. The General died on 17 January 1931.

Sold with accompanying folder of original documents including warrants and statutes for C.M.G. and D.S.O., three M.I.D. Certificates, letters of congratulation for D.S.O. and upon becoming Commandant of the regiment, record of services, marriage and death certificates, letters to his wife and other correspondence, and various photographs including two regimental groups.