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Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 541

A Highly Unusual and Extremely Rare C.M.G. Group of Four to Lieutenant Colonel F. Spire, Provincial Commissioner Uganda Protectorate a) The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Companion´s (C.M.G.) neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, minor enamel damage b) Central Africa 1891-98, ring suspension (F. Spire.), officially impressed c) East and Central Africa 1897-98, one clasp, Uganda 1897-98 (Mr. F. Spire), engraved in large sloping serif capitals d) British War Medal (Lt. Col. F. Spire.), generally good very fine or better The group with the following original documentation &c.: - Bestowal Document for the C.M.G., dated 12.2.1917 - Letter from the Acting Governor of Uganda, dated 13.8.1917, presenting the C.M.G. to recipient for ´Long, faithful and honourable service in the Uganda Protectorate´, in original envelope of issue - Enclosure letter for the East and Central Africa Medal, from the Chief Secretary´s Office, Uganda, dated 27.6.1916 - Enclosure letter for British War Medal, for services ´in the East African Protectorate Forces´, dated 23.10.1924, addressed to recipient at a residence in Cheltenham - Letter from H.M. Special Commissioner & C.-in-C., Port Alice Uganda, appointing Spire Acting Collector of Revenues, Unyoro, dated 13.2.1900 - Letter from Acting British Commissioner for Uganda (Captain I.H.S. Gibb), dated 28.12.1893, giving instructions to Spire as a Water Transport Officer, in original envelope - Letter of congratulation for becoming a Collector sent to the recipient by native runner from George Wilson at Kampala to F. Spire at Massaka, dated 1902 - Copy of Routine Orders, 14.5.1917, from C.-in-C. East Africa Force appointing Spire to be an Honorary Colonel and a Telegram (East Africa and Uganda Telegraphs), dated 31.7.1917, terminating temporary military appointment (lot) Estimate £ 2,200-2,500 C.M.G. London Gazette 1917 Mr. Frederick Spire. ´In recognition of your long, faithful and honourable service in the Uganda Protectorate´ Frederick Spire, C.M.G., born 1863, arrived in East Africa as Batman to Colonel H. Colville, a military officer serving in the B.E.A. Company at the time of handing over Uganda to the Foreign Office. Spire circumnavigated Lake Victoria whilst acting as a Transport Officer in 1893 and was responsible for organising transport between Eldama Ravine and the troops in Busoga. He was appointed for service in the Uganda Protectorate in December 1893 and served in the Unyoro Expedition (1893-94). Spire was appointed Lake Transport Officer in December of the following year and saw various postings in the Nandi area including as Assistant Transport Officer, 1.4.1898 and as Acting 2nd Assistant Collector Unyoro, April 1900, ´His honesty of purpose and mind and inspiration that he gave to all was appreciated by his juniors, and particularly those who had newly entered the Civil Service. In his earlier career there were times when conflict arose between him as a civilian officer and the military officers operating in the same district. That they might have to accept orders from a former batman was obviously a bitter pill to swallow and disputes between them were frequent. This came to a head in 1900 when the Commissioner of Uganda, Sir Harry Johnston, wrote a letter to the Marquis of Salisbury, angrily protesting about Spire´s appointment as a Collector in Bunyoro being disallowed on the grounds that Spire might find himself obliged to issue orders to military officers who were his social superiors" (Uganda Journal refers). Spire was a Collector in Masaka and then in Gondokor, Nile Province, 1902-03, before being promoted as a Sessions Judge in the Nile Province, 1906. He was made Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Province, 1909, taking his residence in Jinga. As the latter he oversaw the construction of the Busoga Railway (Jinga to Namasgali). He had great empathy with the local people and gained their trust and respect, so much so that they erected a memorial to him in Luganda inscribed thus "This heap of stones is to commemorate Mr. F. Spire, C.M.G, the Provincial Commissioner of our country Busoga, who helped us from 1909-1918". He was promoted Provincial Commissioner of the Uganda Protectorate, 1911, and was giving a military rank with the outbreak of the Great War (the British War is his only entitlement). Spire had two papers published in the Journal of the African Society, before he returned to England, where he resided in Cheltenham until his death in 1951.

Sold for
£3,600