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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 124

(x) The campaign pair awarded to Brigadier-General W. F. Fuller, D.S.O., Royal Artillery, who was 'mentioned' and promoted for the final assault on Gyantse, when his guns blew the important final breach, into which the Gurkhas & Fusiliers poured their storming parties

India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89 (Lieut. R. W. Fuller, Royal Arty.); Tibet 1903-04, 1 clasp, Gyantse (Major R. W. Fuller, 7th Mn. By. R.G.A.), minor official corrections to the first, very fine (2)

The I.G.S. was previously sold in the John Tamplin Collection, September 2002 and has been re-united with the Tibet Medal.

Richard Woodfield Fuller was born on 28 September 1861, son of Major A. R. Fuller, Bengal Artillery. He was educated at Wellington College, and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and joined the Royal Artillery on 27 July 1880, as a Lieutenant, becoming Captain on 14 January 1889. He served in Upper Burma 1885-89, and was 'mentioned' (Medal & 2 clasps). He served during the operations in Chitral in 1895, with the Relief Force (Medal and clasp). Promoted to Major on 14 September 1898, he was next present in the Tibet campaign of 1903-04, taking part in the action at Niani, in the operations at and around Gyantse, and in the march to Lhassa (despatches London Gazette 13 December 1904, Medal & clasp, brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel).

Fuller commanded No. 7 British Mountain Battery R.G.A. in Tibet during the assault on Gyantse, and it was his guns that made the important final breach that allowed the Gurkhas and Fusiliers to successfully storm the fortress:

‘In the meanwhile Fuller was directed to make the breach. So magnificent was the shooting made by his guns that a dozen rounds of common shell, planted one below the other, had made a hole large enough for active men to clamber through. The enemy quickly saw the purport of the breach. Dozens of men could be distinctly seen hurrying to the wall above it.’

He served on the North West Frontier of India in 1908, taking part in the operations in the Mohmand country and the engagement at Kargha. For services in this campaign Fuller was again 'mentioned', added another Medal & clasp and created a D.S.O. (London Gazette 14 August 1908):

‘In recognition of services in connection with the recent operations against the Zakka Khel and Mohmands.’

He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 14 July 1908; was given the Brevet of Colonel on 11 September 1909, and promoted Colonel on 16 July 1913. Colonel Fuller served in the Dardanelles in 1915 (despatches), and in France in 1916. He was Temporary Brigadier-General from March 1915 and retired on 25 August 1916, becoming Honorary Brigadier-General on 21 June 1918.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£1,200 to £1,500

Starting price
£950