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Auction: 25002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 172

Sold by Order of the Family

A Great War D.S.O. and campaign group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. T. Weatherby, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, first seeing service in India and who then saw service in East Africa with the King's African Rifles, and who was four times 'mentioned' for good work on the Western Front in the Great War

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, unnamed as issued; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Lieut: J. T. Weatherby. 1st K. African R.); 1914 Star (Capt: J. T. Weatherby. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. J.T. Weatherby.); Delhi Durbar 1903, silver, unnamed as issued; France, Republic, Legion d'Honneur, Chevalier's 5th Class breast Badge, mounted as worn, ribands in relic condition with first, fifth and seventh detached, D.S.O. lacking top-bar and enamel loss to central wreath, tarnish and minor contact wear throughout, last with enamel loss commensurate with wear, otherwise about very fine (7)

D.S.O. London Gazette 23 June 1915.

France, Legion d'Honneur London Gazette 17 March 1920.

M.I.D. London Gazette 19 October 1914, 17 February 1915, 22 June 1915, 5 July 1919.

James Thorpe Weatherby was born on 21 April 1877 at Oatlands, Surrey, one of six sons of Edward Weatherby, who also owned 6 Old Burlington Street, London. Young Weatherby was educated with his brothers at Winchester and then went up to Magdalen College, Oxford, playing for the College Cricket & Football XIs and was latterly a member of the Auld Lang Syne Club. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in February 1899, he was advanced Lieutenant in July 1900 and Captain in December 1905. In this period he was A.D.C. to the Commander-in-Chief East Indies from 15 March-27 November 1902 and took the 1903 Durbar Medal as A.D.C. to the Governor of Bombay. Whilst in Bombay Weatherby was selected for the annual cricket match with the Parsis and top scored in a losing affair.

He was thence on Special Service with the Somaliland Field Force from 3 September 1903-12 June 1904, being attached to the 1st Battalion, King's African Rifles. That unit played a full role in the campaign, sharing in the actions at Samala, Gumburu, Daratoleh and Jidballi (Medal & clasp).

With the outbreak of the Great War, Weatherby went to France on 14 August 1914 and earned his Medal with the Staff List, as Brigade Major, 15th Infantry Brigade, whom he served from 5 August 1914-2 May 1915. He held various further appointments, being made Major in September 1915, Lieutenant-Colonel in December 1917 and Assistant Military Secretary at GHQ British Armies in France in June 1918. For his good services, he added the D.S.O., his French decoration and no less than four 'mentions' (London Gazette 19 October 1914, 17 February & 22 June 1915 and 5 July 1919).

Having retired, the good Lieutenant-Colonel lived at The Fosse House, Ettington, then Stanton House, Bullingdon, Oxfordshire and became a publisher. He was a Steward of the South Oxfordshire Hunt and rode with the Bicester Hounds, having also played polo as a young man. In 1908, whilst a Captain hehad played in a final at the Ranelagh Club in the presence of the Prince & Princess of Wales. A keen amateur cricketer, he scored a spirited 20 runs in a match against his old regiment at Cowley Barracks in August 1935. He was out caught by a young Lieutenant van Straubenzee off the bowling of Captain Eyston. Weatherby died in March 1963, his estate worth a shade under £13,000; sold together with copied research including London Gazette and Medal Roll extracts, M.I.C., and biographical details.

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Estimate
£1,800 to £2,200

Starting price
£1500