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Auction: 24001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 86

Three: Lieutenant Colonel A. H. B. Hume, Royal Engineers

China 1900, no clasp (Capt: A. H. B. Hume. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. A. H. B. Hume.), mounted as worn, lightly toned, extremely fine (3)

Arthur Henry Bliss Hume was born on 19 February 1868, at Colombo, Sri Lanka. He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers as a Second Lieutenant on 17 February 1888 and was promoted to Lieutenant on 17 February 1891. He saw service in India from 23 October 1894 -13 July 1900 and during this time was promoted to Captain on 17 February 1899.

Hume then went to China as part of the Expeditionary Force with No.4 Balloon Section Royal Engineers serving at Tientsin, Pekin and neighbourhood and was also employed on Electric Lighting, Special Survey, Railway Work etc. according to his service record.

In 1900 the Government of India decided to form an "Experimental Balloon Section" and in August 1900 a total of 7 men of the 4th Balloon Section under Hume were sent to Rawalpindi on their return from China, whilst the remainder of the 4th Balloon Section returned to Aldershot.

Hume remained in India for over five years and during this time was promoted to Major on 27 October 1906 and eventually left India on 26 March 1907. He qualified as an Interpreter in German (2nd Class) in January 1908. He returns to India on 4 November 1910 where he appears to remain with the outbreak of the Great War. He served as a Major attached to the Sappers & Miners of the Indian Army based at Allahabad. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 29 March 1915 and then to Colonel (Temp) on 29 March 1919 and Colonel (Substantive) 29 March 1920 being placed on Half-pay the same day. He was returned to Duty and Full-pay on 6 January 1921 but finally retires on an Indian Army pension on 6 January 1925. Hume died on 23 April 1960.

A total of 4 China 1900 medals were awarded to the 4th Balloon Section Royal Engineers, three were awarded without clasp while one was awarded with the clasp Relief of Pekin to Colonel F. V. Jeffreys who was additionally Mentioned in Despatches.

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Sold for
£900

Starting price
£700