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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 283

An unusual campaign group of six awarded to Lieutenant & Adjutant A. C. Webb, 119th-120th Labour Corps, late 8th Lucknow Division and 1/9th Bhopal Infantry, Indian Army, who initially served in India with the Oxford Light Infantry from 1884 and was awarded the L.S. & G.C. as Sergeant of the Band

India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (670 Corpl A. Webb 2-. Bn. Oxf: Lt. Infy.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. A. C. Webb.); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Afghanistan 1921-24 (Lieut. A. C. Webb. 119 Lab Cps.); General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, S. Persia, Iraq (Lieut. A. C. Webb.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (670 Sgt. Of The Band, A. Webb, Oxford Lt. Infy.), rank and initials to first worn, unit to fourth officially re-impressed, light polishing throughout, nearly very fine (6)

Arthur Chisholm Webb was born around October 1866 at Plumstead, Kent, the son of pauper William Harvey Webb of Woolwich. Educated at Army Schools, he attested for the Oxford Light Infantry on 18 July 1882 and left Curragh Camp in Ireland for Gibraltar with the regiment in August 1884. Promoted Band Sergeant on 20 April 1898, he witnessed service in Egypt, Burma and India before returning to England on 24 October 1903 and being discharged at Tidworth Barracks on 21 October 1906. His records at this time note:

'Exemplary. Thoroughly trustworthy and sober. Has been Band Sergeant for 8 years and 24 years in the Band. He is specially qualified to look after young boys.'

Upon discharge, Webb returned to India and took up appointment as Bandmaster to the 1/9th Bhopal Infantry. When war broke out in August 1914, he endeavoured to re-enlist but failed on account of his age. However, Despite being 50 years old, he was selected in 1916 as Bandmaster charged with taking a Divisional Band to Mesopotamia. Contemporary records show that this most likely remained the Band of the 1/9th Bhopals, then based at Fyzabad.

Arriving at Basrah, his band was first sent to Corps Headquarters before reaching the 7th Division at Sannaiyat. However, Webb did not remain in Mesopotamia for long; invalided to India in 1917, he returned to depot and placed his energies into forming a new band, likely using his knowledge of Hindustani to encourage musical endeavour. Appointed to a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, Webb was then posted to the Labour Corps Depot at Allahabad, where he assisted in raising and training the 119th Labour Corps and was promoted Lieutenant and Adjutant. On 4 December 1918, he proceeded with his men to Bushire and on to Malu in Gujarat Province, reaching the latter on 15 May 1919. Transferred to Karachi, Webb was ordered to Jamrud where his men served as working parties.

Remaining on the Afghan frontier until April 1920, Webb then transferred to depot at Bareli and a week later received a telegram ordering him to Waziristan where he took command of the 120th Labour Corps who were at that time engaged upon roadmaking. A short while later he returned to his former unit and was sent to Mesopotamia, before being posted to Basra and thence to Kut around May 1920. From Basra, Webb was sent to Magil - likely with orders to convert his Labour Detachment to armed police. This he likely accomplished in the two hottest months of the Mesopotamian summer.

Returning to India, Webb ended his career as Curator of the Fort at Lahore. He relinquished his appointment in 1927 and returned to England, settling at Lavant Lodge, Chichester, Sussex. Webb died on 10 May 1937 at St. George in the East Hospital, Wapping, London, the cause of death being myorcardial degeneration; sold with copied service records and extensive research including two remarkable copied images of the recipient as a Band Sergeant in India, one of which shows him proudly wearing the IGS and L.S. & G.C. Medals, and another copied photograph which shows him wearing his full entitlement.


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Sold for
£1,100

Starting price
£500