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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 247

The C.I.E. and Great War D.S.O. group of three awarded Lieutenant-Colonel E. W. C. Noel, Indian Army, presumed spy and winner of the military intelligence award, the MacGregor Memorial Medal

The Most Eminent Order of the British Empire, Companion's (C.I.E.) neck Badge in gold and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., in silver-gilt and enamel; Jubilee 1935, depressed centre to obverse of D.S.O., light enamel damage, very fine (3)

C.I.E. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

As of 2019, some 122 MacGregor Medals have been awarded, this is one of 67 silver awards.

Edward William Charles Noel was born on 14 April 1886, a grandson of Charles Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough, and was educated at The Oratory School, Birmingham and the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. He was originally commissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery but transferred to the Indian Army in 1908. Rather eccentrically, Noel twice cycled from England to India: once in 1909 and again the following year. His political career began in 1915 and was appointed Vice-Consul to Ahwaz in Persia: he assisted Peter Polovtsov, a tsarist general who escaped Russia in 1918 and was held hostage by the Jangalis in 1919 whilst carrying despatches for Dunsterforce.

In the aftermath of the Great War Noel supported a creation of an independent Kurdistan and made extensive excursions through the region, establishing good relations with descendants of Bedir Khan Beg and Sheikh Ubeydullah. Noel served as Political Agent for Kurram Agency in 1924 and Consul for Kerman and Persian Baluchistan in 1929, and was Deputy Commissioner of Dehra Ismail Khan in 1931 and in 1933 served as Director of Agriculture and Allied Departments, North West Frontier Provinces and became a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army. Noel died on 10 December 1974.

Sold together with the following archive:

i)
MacGregor Memorial Medal (Awarded for 1918, To Captain E. W. C. Noel, Political Department, for Valuable Reconnaissance Work.) engraved, in case of issue.

ii)
Case of issue for the C.I.E..

iii)
Case of issue for the D.S.O. (incomplete).

For his miniature dress Medals, please see Lot 397.

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Estimate
£2,000 to £3,000

Starting price
£1600