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Auction: 13003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 6

The Superb Great War 1915 'Western Front' C.M.G. Group of Seven to Lieutenant-Colonel G.F. Steele, Commanding Officer of the Royal Dragoons, Who Was Mortally Wounded During the Attack on the Frezenberg Ridge, Ypres, 13.5.1915
a) The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Companion's (C.M.G.) breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with riband buckle
b) Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, six clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing's Nek, Transvaal, Cape Colony, fourth clasp a tailor's copy, clasp facings removed and remounted to facilitate wear (Maj & Adjt: G.F. Steele. 1/R.D.)
c) King's South Africa 1901-02, two clasps, clasp facings removed and remounted to facilitate wear (Maj & Adjt G.F. Steele. Rl. Drgns.), suspension re-pinned
d) 1914 Star (Lt: Col: G.F. Steele. 1/Dns.)
e) British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. G.F. Steele.)
f) Germany, Prussia, Order of the Red Eagle, Third Class breast Badge, by Wagner, Berlin, 37mm, gold and enamel, maker's mark to base of cross, minor enamel damage to central medallion on last, generally good very fine or better, with the following related items:
- The recipient's Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (George Frederick Steele)
- The recipient's Great War Memorial Scroll, named to 'Lt. Col. George Frederick Steel, C.M.G. Royal Dragoons', this slightly damaged, with fragment of Buckingham Palace enclosure
- The recipient's three pre-Great War miniature awards (QSA, KSA, and Order of the Red Eagle)
- Bestowal Document for the Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., named to Lieutenant-Colonel George Frederick Steele, and dated 18.2.1915
- Bestowal Document for the Order of the Red Eagle, named to Major und Adjudanten George Frederick Steele, and dated 8.12.1902, together with Buckingham Palace Private Permission to wear document, both slightly damaged
- Ceremonial Swagger Stick, by Sy and Wagner, Berlin, the silver top bearing the Regimental crest, and inscribed 'Presented by the Colonel in Chief H.I.M. the German Emperor William II. January 1904'
- The recipient's silver cigarette box, the outside inscribed with his various postings, covering the period 8.10.1892- 4.2.1913; the inside with dates of his Commission, promotions, and appointments within the Royal Dragoons, silver (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1891), and containing a lock of the recipient's hair
- The recipient's Royal Dragoons officer's shoulder-belt and pouch, the gold-laced belt having ornate gilt buckle, tip, and slide, the engraved silver pouch-flap bearing crowned GR cypher mounted with small Imperial Eagle in silver
- The recipient's sword, with regulation pierced steel guard and fishskin grip, in leather scabbard (lot)

C.M.G. London Gazette 18.2.1915 Lieutenant-Colonel G. F. Steele, 1st (Royal) Dragoons
'For services rendered in connection with Operations in the Field.'

Lieutenant-Colonel George Frederick Steele, C.M.G., was born in March 1871, and educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Dragoons, September 1892, he was promoted Lieutenant the following November 1893, and after posting with the Regiment to York, Dublin, and Aldershot, he was appointed Adjutant in December 1898, before being promoted Captain in May 1899. Steele served with the Regiment in South Africa from November 1899, and was present at the Relief of Ladysmith, including the action at Colenso; the operations of the 5-7.2.1900, and the action at Val Kranz; the operations at Tugela Heights, 14-27.2.1900, and the actions at Pieters Hill; he took part in the operations in Natal, March to June 1900; in the Orange River Colony, June to November 1900; in the Transvaal, January to August 1901; in the Orange River Colony, August 1901 to March 1902; back in the Transvaal, March to May 1902; and in the Cape Colony, May 1902 (Twice Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazettes 8.2.1901 and 10.9.1901, and promoted Brevet Major, 29.11.1900).

On his return from South Africa Major Steele went with his Regiment to Shorncliffe, where they were inspected by the Regiment's Colonel in Chief, His Imperial Majesty Kaiser Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany, and was presented with the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, 8.12.1902, before going out with the Royal Dragoons to India in January 1904. Promoted Major, 1.10.1904, he then moved with the Regiment to South Africa in November 1911, and was appointed Commanding Officer of the Regiment, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, 2.2.1914.

On the outbreak of the Great War the Regiment was recalled from South Africa to England, arriving home in September 1914. As their Commanding Officer, Steele went with them to France, where they formed part of the 6th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division, landing at Ostend, 8.10.1914. Having been appointed a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in February 1915, Steele was, according to family tradition, invited back to England in early May to receive the award, but instead chose to remain with his men at the front for another month. Shortly afterwards he was mortally wounded leading his men during the attack on the Frezenberg Ridge, Ypres, 13.5.1915, when the 3rd Cavalry Division were called upon to relieve the 28th Division, 'during which shell fire and rain fell without ceasing from early dawn until night... the shrapnel and the machine-gun fire made it impossible for all to reach the old line, or for anyone to remain there, as the trenches were soon reduced to a quagmire, and a new line a thousand yards in rear, consisting chiefly of shell holes on a long reverse slope, was occupied. In the very severe fighting the cavalry lost heavily, with no fewer than one Brigadier and seven Commanding Officers becoming casualties.' (Official History of the War refers). Lieutenant-Colonel Steele was one of those Commanding Officers wounded; he would die of his wounds ten days later, 23.5.1915, and is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery, France.

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Sold for
£4,800