CAMPAIGN GROUPS AND PAIRS
661
Five: Sergeant R. G. Bruce, Corps of Military Staff Clerks, India Unattached List, late Royal Highlanders
1914-15 STAR (985 Pte. (A. Sjt.) R. G. Bruce, R. Highrs.); 1914-15 STAR (No. 985 Sergt. R. G. Bruce, Corps of Mily. St.
Clerks, I.U.L.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (985 Sjt. R. G. Bruce, R. Highrs.); INDIAN ARMY MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL, G.V.
R., 1st issue (Sergt. R. G. Bruce, I.U. List), generally very fine or better, the last rare to a European and an unusual double
issue of the 1914-15 Star (5) £350-400
Ex Major J. L. R. Sampson Collection, Glendining’s, 19 June 1991.
Robert G. Bruce enlisted in the Royal Highlanders in Perth in September 1907, aged 18 years, and joined the 2nd Battalion out in India
sometime before the Great War. On the outbreak of hostilities, due to a shortage of qualified military clerks, Bruce was attached to the
Corps of Military Staff Clerks (I.U.L.), in which capacity he landed in Egypt in November 1914. Subsequently awarded the Indian Army
M.S.M. ‘in recognition of valuable services rendered with the Forces in Egypt’ (London Gazette 3 June 1918 refers), he was discharged
to the Army Reserve in October 1919.
Apart from the issue of 13 such M.S.Ms to senior N.C.Os in native regiments who had European names (probably Anglo-Indians), the
award is known to have been issued on only nine occasions to Europeans serving in the Indian Army.
662
Four: Corporal C. A. Furniss, Liverpool Regiment
1914-15 STAR (1803 Pte., L’pool. R.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (1803 Cpl., L’pool. R); ARMY MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL,
G.V.R., 1st issue (200273 Cpl., 5/L’pool. R.) very fine (4) £350-400
Charles Alban Furniss was born in West Derby, Liverpool. A Clerk in the employ of the Maritime Insurance Company, he attested for
the Territorial Force at Liverpool on 23 February 1914, aged 21 years, 8 months. Mobilised for war, he entered the France/Flanders
theatre of war on 21 February 1915. Serving with the 1/5th Battalion Liverpool Regiment, as part of the 55th Division, he was awarded
the Meritorious Service Medal for his wartime services.
Recommendation states: ‘This N.C.O. has acted as Battalion postman since February 1915. I cannot speak too highly of this N.C.O.’s
devotion to duty. The bringing up of letters, parcels etc., under all conditions has often excited the admiration of all ranks and there has
never been one occasion where mails etc., in his possession have not been delivered, whatever apparent difficulties were in the way.
After the war, Furniss returned to his position with the Maritime Insurance Company. With copied m.i.c. and service papers and other
research.
663
Three: Captain J. H. G. Smyth, Royal Munster Fusiliers, later Assistant District Officer, Nigeria
1914-15 STAR (Capt., R. Muns. Fus.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (Capt.) nearly extremely fine (3) £200-250
John Henry Gordon Smyth was born on 4 July 1885 in Ratticoursey, Aghada, Co. Cork. He was educated at Midleton College, Co.
Cork. By occupation a Gentleman Farmer, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 3rd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers in 1909. As
a Captain he entered the African theatre of war on 7 December 1915. In 1922, at the time of his relinquishing his commission whilst
retaining his rank, he was an Assistant District Officer in Nigeria.
Sold with copy of m.i.c., birth certificate and four copied pages from his P.R.O. correspondence file.
664
Three: Private R. A. Lamb, 8th and 14th Battalions, Australian Imperial Force, a Gallipoli veteran who was killed in
action at Pozieres in August 1916
1914-15 STAR (1767 Pte. R. A. Lamb, 8/Bn. A.I.F.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (1767 Pte. R. A. Lamb, 8 Bn. A.I.F.),
mounted as worn by the recipient’s next of kin in incorrect order, but with the 1914-15 Star correctly placed on the
right, very fine or better (3) £300-350
Robert Alfred Lamb, a barman from Richmond, Victoria, enlisted in January 1915 and was posted to the 8th Battalion, Australian
Imperial Force. Embarked for Egypt in H.M.A.T. Wiltshire in April 1915, he would have witnessed extensive action in the Gallipoli
peninsula, not least in the Battalion’s part in 2nd Brigade’s assaults on Krithia and Lone Pine, although in November Lamb was
evacuated to Mudros with sickness.
Thence embarked for Egypt, Lamb transferred to the 14th Battalion and was ordered to France in June 1916. Sadly, however, his
second stint of active service was short-lived, for he was killed in action during an enemy counter-attack at Pozieres on 7 August, while
serving in ‘B’ Company. He was 25 years of age and is buried in the Courcellete British Cemetery.
665
Four: Subadar-Major Digbahadur Rai, 2-3rd Gurkha Rifles
1914-15 STAR (No. 1899 Sepoy, 2/3/Gurkha Rfls.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (1899 Rfmn., 2-3 Grks.); JUBILEE 1935
(Sub-Maj. Dikbahadur Rai, B.M.P.) fine and better (4) £100-140
The first Gurkha to be awarded the Victoria Cross was from 2-3 G.R. in France, 1915. A second V.C. was awarded to a Gurkha soldier
of the same battalion for operations in Palestine in 1918. These were the only two Victoria Crosses to be awarded to Gurkhas in the
First World War.
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