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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 544

A fine 1916 D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Colonel W. F. S. Casson, 27th Light Cavalry, Indian Army, who earned no less than four 'mentions' during a distinguished career

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R.; 1914 Star (Capt. W. F. S. Casson, D.S.O., 27/Cavy.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Maj. W. F. S. Casson.); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1921-24, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Bt. Lt. Col. W. F. S. Cossow, 27 Cavy); Defence Medal 1939-45; Delhi Durbar 1911, third with officially re-impressed naming, note surname spelling and clasp reverses removed to facilitate mounting to fifth, very fine (7)

D.S.O. London Gazette 14 January 1916.

Wilfred Francis Seymour Casson was born on 4 October 1877 at Ripon, Yorkshire, the eldest son of the late Lieutenant-Colonel B. T. Casson of Conford, Liphook, Hampshire. Educated at St. Edmund's College, Ware, the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and Staff College, Camberley. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on the Indian Army Unattached in 1897, he would serve as Aides-de-Camp to L.G.C. Madras Command and General Officer Commanding Poona Division, 1901-04. Promoted Adjutant, 2nd Madras Lancers, he became Brigade Major of the Jubbulpur Brigade in 1908 and Station Staff Officer at Jhansi from 1908 to 1912. Serving in France from 5 August 1914, Casson was Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General from 3 January-5 March 1915, before being promoted Major with the Meerut Division and awarded the D.S.O.

Transferred to Mesopotamia from November 1915-31 May 1916, Casson served with the Lahore Division, before again being moved, this time to the Northern Army, India, as General Staff Officer 2nd Class, being promoted Lieutenant-Colonel. Casson ended the war as General Staff Officer 1st Class, 16th Division, having been awarded the D.S.O. and with a trio of 'mentions' to his name (London Gazette 1 January 1916 (Garhwal Brigade), 17 February 1916 and 18 May 1918, refer). It was during this period Casson was appointed Master of the Lahore Hunt, 197-20.

His final active service was on the North West Frontier, during which he added a final mention (London Gazette 3 August 1920, refers), before being appointed A.A. & Q.M.G., Poona District, India, 1923-26. Retired to the Reserve at home in Liphook in 1926, he spent his time playing polo, shooting and hunting and served in the Home Guard during the Second World War; sold with extensive copied research.


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Sold for
£1,600