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Auction: 6025 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 240

The Great War C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O. Group of Ten Including the India General Service with Clasp Lushai 1889-92, and Ashanti Star 1896 to Brigadier-General F.W. Towsey, West Yorkshire Regiment, Who Commanded the 1st Battalion of His Regiment on the Western Front in the Great War, and Was Mentioned in Despatches Five Times a) The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George, Companion´s (C.M.G.) neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, minor enamel damage, in damaged Garrard & Co, London case of issue b) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1st type, Military Division, Commander´s (C.B.E.) neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in Garrard & Co, London case of issue c) Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar d) India General Service 1854-95, one clasp, Lushai 1889-92 (Lieut. F. W. Towsey Comstt: Transport Deptt.) e) Ashanti Star 1896, reverse engraved as named to the Regiment, ´Capt. F.W. Towsey 2 W.Yorks R.´ f) 1914 Star (Lt: Col: F.W. Towsey. W. York: R.) g) British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaves (Brig. Gen. F.W. Towsey.) h) Italy, Order of St. Maurice & Lazarus, Fourth Class breast Badge, gilt and enamel, green enamel damage i) Belgium, Croix de Guerre, generally very fine, the last eight mounted as originally worn, with recipient´s Identification Tags (10) Estimate £ 6,500-7,000C.B.E. London Gazette 3.6.1919 Francis William Towsey D.S.O. London Gazette 1.1.1918 Lieutenant Colonel (Temporary Brigadier-General) Francis William Towsey, C.M.G., West Yorkshire Regiment Brigadier-General Francis William Towsey, C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O., born 1864, the son of Captain G.W. Towsey, R.N.; educated at Rugby; Lieutenant West Yorkshire Regiment, 1885; Captain 1892; Adjutant 15.2.1894-14.2.1898; he served in the South Lushai Hills, on detachment, 1882, and during his period as Adjutant, Towsey was sent to Ashanti with his regiment as a consequence of King Prempeh´s non-payment of the indemnity of the 1874 treaty. This combined with reports that human sacrifice was taking place within the kingdom, pre-empted an expedition to encompass the Ashanti Kingdom as a British Protectorate. The 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment embarked on the S.S. Manila, 11.12.1895, arriving at Cape Coast Castle on the 25th of December, ´The Ashanti expedition was the last occasion when British Troops proceeded on active service clothed in red. Incidentally, the colour did not last very long, the men perspired so much when on the march in the very humid climate of the Gold Coast that, at the end of the first day´s march, i.e. from Cape Coast Castle to Jaykuma, a distance of only seven and a half miles, the jumpers turned black with the perspiration and remained that colour. More men fell out on the first day´s march than on any other. The Battalion was disembarked in the middle of the day and marched at 2.30pm. Men were dropping out before we were clear of the town and so it continued the whole of the march. Fifty men only [out of approximately 400] marched into Jaykuma as a battalion´ (The Ashanti Star Roll-Part V, in which a copy of the diary kept by an N.C.O. of the 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment is included, refers). Towsey seems to have thrived under such hardships and proved to be a pillar of strength for his men, ´The Adjutant, Captain F.W. Towsey, was up through the night bringing in parties of stragglers he had collected. Each time he came into camp with these men he was carrying several rifles and packs. He was a man of splendid physique but he must have been completely exhausted as a result of that day and night´s work.´ (The Ashanti Star Roll-Part V, in which a copy of the diary kept by an N.C.O. of the 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment is included, refers). The expedition continued its march through extreme humidity and difficult terrain to reach Kumassi on the 17th of January. After three days of negotiations King Prempeh and several of his followers were arrested. Towsey and the 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment acted as an escort for the King and his party back to Cape Coast Castle. The 2nd Battalion returned to England by the end of February. Towsey was advanced to Major 1904; Lieutenant-Colonel 1914; Officer Commanding 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment during the Great War, and served in the French theatre of operations from, 10.9.1914 (C.B.E.; C.M.G. 1917; M.I.D. London Gazette 22.6.1915; 4.1.1917; 15.5.1917; 11.12.1917; 20.12.1918; Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus; Croix de Guerre London Gazette 4.9.1919); Colonel 1918; retired Honorary Brigadier-General. See Lot 264 for Captain G.W. Towsey´s Medals

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