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Auction: 13003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 3

A Good Great War C.B., Scarce Campaign Group of Eight to Brigadier-General L.N. Herbert, Indian Army, Who Was Severely Wounded During the Defence of Malakand, 27.7.1897; Mentioned in Despatches for Tibet; And Commanded the 65th Infantry Brigade in Salonika, 1915-16
a) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, Companion's (C.B.) breast Badge, converted for neck wear, silver-gilt and enamel
b) India General Service 1895-1902, V.R., three clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Malakand 1897, Tirah 1897-98 (Captn. L.N. Herbert 22d. Pjb. Infy.)
c) Tibet 1903-04, no clasp (Major L.N. Herbert 19th Punjabis), surname partially officially corrected
d) 1914-15 Star (Brig. Gen. L.N. Herbert.)
e) British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaves (Brig. Gen. L.N. Herbert.)
f) India General Service 1903-35, E.VII.R., one clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Lt. Colonel L.N. Herbert, 19th Punjabis)
g) Serbia, Kingdom, Order of the White Eagle, Military Division, Commander's neck Badge, 86mm including crown and crossed swords suspension x 50mm, silver-gilt and enamel, light contact marks overall, otherwise good very fine, with three photographic images of recipient in uniform (8)

C.B. London Gazette 1.1.1917 Col, Lionel Norton Herbert, Indian Army

Serbia, Order of the White Eagle, 3rd Class (with Swords) London Gazette 15.2.1917 Colonel (temporary Brigadier-General) Lionel Norton Herbert, Indian Army.

Brigadier-General Lionel Norton Herbert, C.B. (1863-1928), commissioned Lieutenant, Royal Irish Regiment, 1882; appointed provisionally to the Bengal Staff Corps, 1884, and attached 22nd Punjab Native Infantry; Wing Officer 1886; appointed Quarter Master and Officiating Adjutant, 1887; Captain 1893; Wing Commander 1896; served with the regiment in the campaign on the North West Frontier under Lockhart, 1897-98, and served as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General with the Malakand Brigade, when Brigadier-General Meiklejohn's camp came under attack from the forces of the fanatical Faqir; Herbert was severely wounded 27.7.1897, Meiklejohn's despatch (13.8.1897) gives the following:

'The enemy having over-powered the picquet on the Abbott (Graded) Road got on to the high ground in rear of the position from which they kept up a heavy fire all night, periodically charging with great determination right up to the Abattis which was lined by the Sappers and Miners. Twice they penetrated, once capturing the Quarter Guard, in which was all the ammunition of the company. It was in trying to stop this charge that Lieutenant Watling, temporarily in command of the company, was wounded by a man whom he ran through with his sword. The enemy overpowered the guard, and for a time held the guard-room, but were eventually driven out by a party of the 24th Punjab Infantry under Lieutenant Climo. Some of the enemy penetrated into the Commissariat Godown, and here they killed Honorary Lieutenant Manley, my Brigade Commissiariat Officer.

In the enclosure the fighting was very severe, for the enemy were on three sides of it, and fought with great determination, bringing a heavy cross fire on the defenders, and continually charging right up to the breast-works.

Lieutenant-Colonel Lamb, 24th Punjab Infantry, Major Herbert, my Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General, and Captain Holland, 24th Punjab Infantry, were all shot in this enclosure. The attack had been carried with great vigour from 10.30pm till 2.30am when the sounds of tomtoms and pipes approaching up the Graded Road indicated reinforcements coming to the enemy. The garrison of the enclosure was already hard pressed, and so I sent Lieutenant Rawlins, 24th Punjab Infantry, up to the fort to bring down 100 men from there. The enemy were all round the enclosure and there was every chance of his having to fight his way. He went with three orderlies and arrived back safely with the reinforcements. The fight lasted till 4.30am, when the enemy withdrew.'

Herbert was also present in the operations in Swat and Bajour including the night attack of Nawagai, September 1897; he also served with the Mohmand Field Force including the capture of Badmanai Pass and operations in the Mittai and Swan valleys; after fully recuperating from his wound Herbert was appointed Second in Command, 22nd Punjab Regiment, 18.11.1900; served as Officiating Commandant 19th Punjab Regiment in Tibet (Mentioned in Despatches Gazette of India No. 1065 of 1904), being appointed Commandant of the regiment, 4.4.1905; commanded the Derajat Brigade, from 4.4.1909; served during the Great War as Brigadier (in command) 65th Infantry Brigade, British Forces in Salonika, 8.5.1915-1.12.1916 (C.B.; M.I.D. London Gazette 6.12.1916); appointed Inspector of Depots, Mhow Division, 23.7.1918, before retiring the following July.

Provenance: Glendinings, December 1991

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£2,900