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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 546

The Great War C.I.E. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. M. Berkeley, Indian Army, who despite being convicted of cheating during his Sandhurst entrance examination, led a distinguished career in the Assam Railways

The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, (C.I.E.), Companion’s 2nd type breast badge, gold and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. A. M. Berkley [sic], I.A.R.O. Attd. 1/S.&M.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oak leaf (Lt. Col. A. M. Berkeley); Indian Volunteer Forces Officers’ Decoration, G.V.R., with brooch bar adapted for mounting, reverse inscribed, 'Major. A. M. Berkeley. A.B. Ry. Vol. Rifles.'; Dehli Durbar 1911, engraved in running script 'Major A. M. Berkeley. A.B. R.V.R.', generally good very fine (6)

C.I.E. London Gazette 26 August 1918.

Arthur Mowbray Berkeley was born in 1870, second son of Major-General Frederick George Berkeley. Educated at the Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire and the Oxford Military Academy, he was put forward for the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in 1887. Unfortunately for Berkeley, he was convicted, of his own confession, of having copied from his neighbour during the examination. The matter caused something of a scandal, with a committee comprising the Earl of Stafford, Sir G. Dasent and T. Walrond meeting to decide his fate. Despite his masters suggesting he might be '...put back twelve months, as a sufficient punishment' he was not granted a second chance (The Civil Service Commission, 1855-1991, by Richard Chapman, refers).

Changing tack, he joined the staff of the Assam Bengal Railway in 1893, as Chief Engineer, besides being commissioned into the Assam & Bengal Volunteer Railway Rifles. With the commencement of hostilities his previous misdemeanors were forgotten, and he served with the Royal Engineers on the Western Front and the 42nd Assam Bengal Railway Rifles, Indian Defence Force in Mesopatamia. By the War's end, he would be appointed Assistant Direct of Railways, be awarded the C.I.E. and be twice mentioned in the desptaches (London Gazettes 15 August 1917 & 27 August 1918, refer).

A Director of the Ebonite Container Company post-War, and a member of the Oriental Club and the Royal Dorset Yacht Club, Berkeley died at West Coker House, Yeovil, on 23 March 1937; sold with copied MIC, medal issuance records and copied research.

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Sold for
£1,300