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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 374

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

A Great War D.S.O. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. G. Risley, 18th (King George's Own) Lancers, later Royal Artillery, who was also mentioned in despatches for his work on the Western Front

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. C. G. Risley, 18/Lncrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. C. G. Risley.); Belgium, Order of Leopold, Military Division, Knight's breast Badge, aplati crown with rosette and gold palm upon riband; Croix de Guerre 1914-18, mounted court-style as worn by Ranken & Co., Calcutta, the fifth with minor enamel loss, generally good very fine, in damaged Hamilton & Co. box of issue (6)



D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

Order of Leopold London Gazette 24 October 1919.

Crescent Gebhard Risley was born on 8 October 1881, son of Sir Herbert Hope Risley, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., of the Indian Civil Service, and Elsie Julie Oppermann. Educated at Winchester College, he entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery (South-East Scotland) on 20 September 1899. He transferred to the 18th Tiwana Lancers on 4 February 1905, and he wears the uniform of this proud Regiment in his portrait photograph (illustrated - note his sword). Reconstituted as the 18th (King George's Own) Lancers in 1910, the Regiment comprised three Squadrons of Punjabi Musalmans and one of Sikhs. Part of the Meerut Cavalry Brigade, it was inspected by Brigadier-General Fitz J. M. Edwards on 16 January 1914 (see IOR/L/MIL/7/17023). Edwards commented:

'A fine regiment and fit for service but rather conservative and disinclined to advance with the times, especially in matters of interior economy.'

Mobilised for service on the Western Front, the Regiment left Bombay on 19 November 1914 aboard the hired transports City of Birmingham and Tactician, disembarking at Marseilles on 15 December. It was billeted at Estree Blanche, six miles south of Aire, as part of the Ambala Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Indian Division. Risley was assigned a staff appointment at General Headquarters on 1 July 1915, during the First Battle of Ypres (London Gazette, 17 August 1915, refers). He appears in a photograph album compiled by his colleague Brigadier Crosse, held at the Imperial War Museum (8012-31/A). He attained the rank of Major on 23 July 1916, and was mentioned in despatches for his services (Edinburgh Gazette, 1 January 1917, refers). He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the 1917 New Year's Honours List, while Belgium bestowed upon him the Order of Leopold and the Croix de Guerre. He was still serving in France at the time of the Armistice.

The 18th returned to India in November 1920, Risley distinguishing himself in the Meerut Polo Tournament (see The Pioneer Mail, 5 November 1920). The 18th amalgamated with the 19th Lancers (Fane's Horse) in 1921 to form the 19th King George's Own Lancers. Risley retired in 1922 with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He then became a Settler of Kenya Colony, residing at Matunguru Estate, Chania Bridge, Kenya Colony. A member of the Cavalry and Naval & Military Clubs, he married Gladys Mary Genevieve Smyth Pigott and died in 1947.

Sold with the recipient's 1912 Pattern Cavalry Officer's Sword, as shown in his portrait photograph. The sword of standard form, its straight single-edged steel blade 880mm in length, '38549' stamped on its back edge at the forte and both faces richly engraved with the Royal Arms and Regimental insignia, the near face bearing the inscription: 'LIEUT. COL. C. G. RISLEY. D.S.O. OFFICIER DE L'ORDRE DE LEOPOLD CROIX DE GUERRE. 23-7-01. TO 8-10-22. FRANCE & FLANDERS. 1914-1918'; the hilt of white-metal alloy, the guard pierced in 'honeysuckle' style, the sharkskin grip bound with German-silver wire, 1050mm overall, complete with original steel scabbard and sword knot, by Henry Wilkinson, Pall Mall, London.




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Sold for
£1,800