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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 110

Three: Captain B. J. Magnus, Indian Army, attached 40th Pathans, who saw service as a Company Commander in East Africa

1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. B. J. Magnus, I.A.R.O.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. B. J. Magnus.), with an attractive leather case initialled 'B.J.M.', good very fine (3)

Basil James Magnus was born in May 1886 at Timperley, Chesire, the son of Jamus Magnus, a Manchester cotton merchant. Growing up at 'Hazeldene', Bloomsbury Lane, Timperley, young Magnus began working life as a merchant himself, appearing on the 1911 census as a 'Shipping Clerk'. His passport includes stamps for Scandinavia and by the outbreak of the War he was in India. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 29 January 1915 into the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, he was posted to the 40th Pathans on 4 September 1915, just prior to the Battle of Loos.

This unit departed the Western Front soon after, being sent first to Egypt and thence on to East Africa. Arriving at Mombasa on 8 January 1916 Magnus was to be promoted Lieutenant on 29 January 1916 - however he was not long on the continent before he fell ill, being in hospital from May 1916 before rejoining the regiment at Kahe Kwa Ruhu. He is noted as being placed in charge of the Regimental baggage at Handeni and ordered to move it to Morogoro: as they travelled Magnus fell ill with sunstroke and the bulk of the Regiment's kit was lost, an event that cannot have endeared him to his comrades though one hopes they were lenient considering his illness.

Another bout of illness kept him in hospital until April 1917 and upon leaving he was appointed to the command of a Company with the rank of Captain. A few days later he was given command of a post at Rumbo on the regiment's line of supply with a mixed for of 100 Pathans and 50 men of the Gold Coast Regiment. His orders while here were:

'to establish a strong post, to communicate with [Lieutenant-Colonel] Tyndall's column by telephone and runners, patrol actively and to send forward cooked rations when required.'

However, Magnus's time in Africa had seriously damaged his health and he was unable to continue his duties, being invalided on 12 October 1918. Returning to civilian life he resumed work as a merchant, being appointed a Special Class Clerk with the Board of Trade in 1933. He lived at 'Pioneer', River Ash, Shepperton, London; sold together with copied research comprising M.I.C., census data and typed research as well as a photograph, Army Lists and extracts from The 40th Pathans in The Great War and the History of the 5th Battalion (Pathans) 14th Punjab Regiment.

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Sold for
£130

Starting price
£60