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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 439

An unusual campaign group of nine awarded to Colonel R. H. Penrose-Welsted, C.I.E., Director of Farms, Military Farms Department (India), late 1/4th & 2/7th Rajputs, Indian Army, and Connaught Rangers, who survived the crash of the Imperial Airways Horsa G-AAUC in the Persian Gulf in August 1936, whilst on his way back to India

1914-15 Star (Lt. R. H. Penrose-Welsted. 1/4/Rajputs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Maj. R. H. Penrose-Welsted); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S. Persia (Major. R. H. Penrose-Welsted); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1921-24 (Capt. R. H. Penrose Welsted. 2-7 Rajput R.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; India Service Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45, first seven mounted as worn, very fine (9)

[C.I.E.] London Gazette 1 January 1943.

Reginald Hugh Penrose-Welsted was born on 23 April 1891 at Portlaw, Carrick-on-Suir, County Waterford and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 3 September 1910, also taking the Prize for Military Administration. He served with the Connaught Rangers and was transferred to the Rajputs in 1911. During the Great War he served with the 4th Prince Albert Victor's Rajputs, who served in Mesopotamia. Their first action came at Ahwaz on 3 March 1915, when Major Bond was killed in action, Penrose-Welsted was no doubt in close order and in the thick of the action. Brigadier General C.T. Robinson led a force of barely 1,000 Indian troops, thirty Officers and enlisted men, two field guns, and two mountain guns from the town of Ahwaz to attack a force eight times their size at Ghadir. When put into action on the return, the bayonet charge to the ridge filled with enemy cost 62 men killed and 127 wounded. Penrose-Welsted ended the Great War with a well-deserved 'mention' (London Gazette 3 February 1920, refers).

With the unit re-named the 2/7th Rajputs, Penrose-Welsted saw further active service in South Persia, as General Staff Officer 2nd Class with the Bushire Field Force and Waziristan. Confirmed in the rank of Major in September 1927.

Flying back to India in August 1936, he was lucky to survive the crash of Imperial Airways G-AAUC which took off from London on 22 August. With its passengers including a number of Officers, the Political Agents for Bahrain and an RAF contingent, they made good speed to Basra. However, on the leg to Bahrain, they were forced to crash land in the desert around 0520hrs on 29 August. Having lost radio communications, they were all but stranded and faced a grim outlook, with only '...a few sandwiches, a small amount of bottled water, chocolates and whiskey'.

Thankfully, No. 84 Squadron RAF were in the area and together with two further craft of Imperial Airways, began the search. Having spent two days under the sapping Arabian sun, they were finally spotted and rescued some 40 miles south of Salwa Wells, no doubt grateful that the ordeal was at an end.

Penrose-Welsted made his way onto India, being made Colonel and Director of Farms, Military Farms Service on 11 November 1936. This unusual unit was formed in 1889 in order to provide milk and fodder for the huge head of cattle required to meet the needs of the Indian Army. Penrose-Welsted served in this role during the Second World War and was awarded a C.I.E. for his part. He died at Battle, Sussex, in March 1966; sold together with copied research.

His collar Badge of the Military Farms Department is in the collection of the National Army Museum (NAM1965-10-109, refers).

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Sold for
£580

Starting price
£320