Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sergeant Major W. Hudson, Devonshire Regiment

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (2392 Sergt. W. Hudson 2/11th. Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (2392 Sergt. W. Hudson. Devon. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (C. Sjt: A/S. Mjr: W. Hudson. P.S. 1/V.B. Devon: Regt.) rank of last officially corrected, the first polished and worn, this nearly very fine; the others good very fine and better (3) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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Christie’s, November 1988.

50 Annuity Meritorious Service Medals awarded to the 11th Regiment of Foot/ Devonshire Regiment, and one of only 7 Edward VII issues.

William Henry Hudson was born in Newington Causeway, Middlesex in 1853 and attested for the 11th Regiment of Foot at Westminster on 7 February 1872. Joining the 2nd Battalion in Ireland, he later took part in the Autumn Manoeuvres on Dartmoor in 1873. Promoted Corporal on 25 May 1874 and Sergeant on 5 April 1879, he embarked with his battalion for India on 9 February 1877 and formed part of the 2nd Division, Kandahar Field Force at Quetta on 5 July 1880. Commencing a 120-mile march in six stages through the Bolan Pass, 13 men died from heatstroke before they arrived at Kandahar on 19 September 1880. After eight months gruelling soldiering in Afghanistan, of the 22 officers and 720 men that had crossed from India only 14 officers and 372 men returned. On 12 May 1881 the Battalion detrained at Jullundur at night to hide their ragged and disreputable appearance, the battalion then commenced a lengthy period of rehabilitation whilst stationed at Jullundur.

Returning to England on 11 May 1884 Hudson was transferred to the 1st (Exeter & South Devon) Rifle Volunteers as Sergeant Instructor on 26 June 1884 and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 251 of July 1890. Appointed Acting Sergeant Major, HQ, 1st Rifle Volunteers at Exeter on 13 November 1893, he was finally discharged to pension at Exeter on 6 September 1905, aged 52, after 33 years and 212 days’ service. He was subsequently awarded his Meritorious Service Medal with Annuity on 12 April 1911, and died at Heavitree, Exeter on 6 August 1923, aged 69.

Hudson’s son William George Hudson followed his father into the Devonshire Regiment and served with distinction during both the Boer War and the Great War, being awarded the DCM for South Africa and a Second Award Bar for the Great War in Mesopotamia. His medals were sold in these rooms in January 2022.

Sold with copied service records and other research including numerous copied contemporary newspaper reports.