The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

Six: Regimental Sergeant-Major C. S. Shakespear, Middlesex Regiment

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1901-2 (4596 Sergt. C. Shakespeare 1st Bn. Middlesex Regt.) officially re-engraved naming, together with a second medal officially engraved in running script (4596 Sgt. C. Shakespeat, 1st Middx R.) note spelling of surname; 1914 Star, with clasp (L-4596 C.S. Mjr. C. Shakespeare. 1/Middx: R.); British War and Victory Medals (L. 4596 W.O. Cl. 2. C. Shakespeare. Midd’x R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (4596 C. Sjt: C. Shakespear. Middx: Regt.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (4596 W.O. Cl. 2. C. Shakespear. M.X.) cleaned and court mounted for display, the second I.G.S. good fine, otherwise good very fine or better, the first unique to the regiment (7) £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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The first medal, for Waziristan 1901-2, is unique to the Middlesex Regiment and is one of only 15 to British other ranks. The other fourteen recipients were all attached to the Indian Telegraph Department, whereas Sergeant Shakespear is shown on an individual roll as ‘Transport Sergeant, D 52 Native Field Hospital. On sick convoy duty mid way between Nili Kuch & Murtaya’. All four of the known medals to British other ranks for this campaign are officially re-engraved.

M.S.M. awarded under the terms of Army Order 98 of 1953 without annuity

Christopher Staveley Shakespear enlisted into the Middlesex Regiment on 11 January 1894. He was appointed Lance-Corporal (1st Bn.) on 18 November 1895; Corporal, 25 April 1896; Sergeant, 24 December 1898; Colour-Sergeant, 27 December 1901; posted to 19th Battalion, 1 December 1913; Company Sergeant Major, 30 December 1913; W.O. II, 29 January 1915; posted to 5th Battalion, 26 March 1915; posted to 22nd (Bantam) Battalion, 28 June 1915; W.O. I (R.S.M.), 3 July 1915; discharged on termination of engagement, 10 January 1916.

Served overseas: South Africa, 25 April 1896 to 19 March 1898; East Indies, 20 March 1898 to 4 June 1909; B.E.F. France, 16 August to 31 October, 1914; wounded in action, Armentieres, 26 October 1914.

Mr Shakespear died at the age of 81 on 14 June 1957.

Sold with original portrait photograph, and three others, together with copied medal roll extract and a copy of Crown Imperial, March, 1981, which has a long article about this man and his medals written by Roger Perkins, in whose collection these medals were once held. For a photograph of him as Colour-Sergeant with Sergeant-Drummer Duncan, in India with the old Colours of the 57th Foot, see Lot 182.