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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 248

The C.I.E. group of five awarded to Captain A. R. Leishman, Assam-Bengal Railway Volunteer Rifles

The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, (C.I.E.) neck Badge, 56mm including crown suspension x 36mm, gold and enamel, on a short length of neck riband; British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt. A. R. Leishman.); Delhi Durbar 1911; Indian Volunteer Forces Officers' Decoration, G.V.R. (Capt. A. R. Leishman. The A. B. Rly. Bn. (A.F.I.)), with top riband bar; Volunteer Long Service (India and the Colonies), G.V.R. (Lieutt A. R. Leishman Assam 1st Ry Vol Rfls), officially engraved naming, note spelling on rank, last four mounted for wear, sold together with a photograph of the recipient, all very fine (5)

C.I.E. London Gazette 3 June 1931.

V.D. Indian Gazette 15 September 1923.

Alan Ross Leishman was born in August 1878 in Burma to Sarah Robina Boog and James Matthew Leishman, the latter Leichman a partner in Bulloch Bros & Co, one of the empire's biggest rice-milling firms. The younger Leishman followed in his footsteps and worked as a Manager of the Chittagong Branch at James Finlay & Co, the global tea trading company, for 30 very successful years. While working here, he enlisted into the Indian Volunteers in 1897 as a Trooper but it wasn't until October 1908 that Leishman commissioned and was appointed Second Lieutenant of the Assam-Bengal Railway Volunteer Rifles. Just under a year later he was promoted Lieutenant. This was a relatively new unit, having been formed in January 1901 and was initially made up of circa 90 volunteers. Its primary purpose was to protect railway personnel and property and all its officers were European. By the time Leishman was serving with them he was one of 20 officers and overseeing the command of circa 440 volunteers. The regiment were present at the 1911 Delhi Durbar and later, the Great War.

Leishman was promoted Captain in July 1916 and he served on the Western Front as part of the newly formed 42nd Assam-Bengal Railway Battalion. On the formation of the Indian Defence Force in 1917, he was placed on the Supernumerary List as a Captain.

In 1922, Captain Leishman reigned his commission in the December, but he was allowed to retain his rank and permission to wear the uniform of the corps. Leishman was a very successful businessman in his civilian life, overseeing the local Chamber of Commerce as President on 23 occasions, working as a Port Commissioner between 1907-29, and Chairman of Port Commissioners between 1929-34. He further served on the District Board and was a member of the Hospital Committee from 1911. He served as Vice-Consul to Chile the same year as attending the Delhi Durbar. He was awarded the C.I.E. for his long serving managerial duties at James Finlay & Co, Chittagong branch before then returning back to Bickley, Kent, England, where one of his sisters, Jane Agatha, lived.

Leishman died after in December 1937 after a freak accident, having been knocked down by a motor-cyclist on Bromley Common. He never married and died without issue; sold with substantial copied research.


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Estimate
£1,800 to £2,000

Starting price
£1400