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Auction: 21103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction 4
Lot: 323

An unusual Chin Hills operations C.B.E. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. B. T. Abbey, Indian Army, who commanded operations in the Chin Hills 1917-18

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander's 1st type neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Major W. T. B. Abbey, Indian Army); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major W. T. B. Abbey), generally very fine or better (4)


C.B.E. London Gazette 1919.

Walter Bulmer Tate Abbey was born on 8 August 1872, the son of Walter Abbey of Wellingborough Grange, Northamptonshire. Educated at Monkton Combe and Sandhurst, young Walter was commissioned in the Durham Light Infantry in September 1892.

Transferring to the Indian Army in the following year, he joined the 7th Bombay Lancers and, in 1896, the 32nd Lancers. It was in the latter capacity that he served in operations against the Kara rebels in 1898.

In 1902, Abbey joined the Burma Commission and he was serving as a Deputy Commissioner at Myitkyina about the time of the outbreak of war. He subsequently participated in operations on the North-East Frontier in 1914-15 and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 4 July 1916, refers). But it was for his subsequent command of operations in the Chin Hills 1917-18 that he was awarded the C.B.E. and a second 'mention' (London Gazette 23 July 1920, refers).

Abbey, who was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in September 1918, was placed on the Retired List in November 1920. The author of several publications - including A Manual of the Maru Language - he lived in Tangier, Morocco and in Sydney, Australia, at which latter city he died in March 1949; sold with copied research.



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Sold for
£550

Starting price
£240