A Collection of Medals to the Gloucestershire Regiment 147
A Great War ‘Salkonika’ immediate D.S.O., and ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of eleven awarded to Colonel H. F. L. Hilton-Green, Gloucestershire Regiment
Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top ribbon bar; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; 1914-15 Star (Capt. H. F. L. Hilton-Green. Glouc. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. H. F. L. Hilton-Green); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamels; Romania, Kingdom, Order of the Star (Military), Officer’s breast badge with swords, silver-gilt and enamels, some minor enamel chips to the orders, otherwise generally good very fine or better (11)
£2,400-£3,000 D.S.O. London Gazette 18 January 1918; citation London Gazette 25 April 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack on a village. He advanced across most difficult country, overcoming considerable opposition, and though part of his column was delayed, he attacked and cleared the village. He led his men with the greatest determination, and by his courageous leadership defeated a force of over double his own strength.’ [Kakaraska, Salonika, 24/25th October 1917]
M.C. London Gazette 11 January 1916. M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916 (French’s despatch of 15 October 1915); 6 December 1916; 11 June 1918; 5 June 1919. Legion of Honour, 5th Class London Gazette 1 May 1917. Star of Roumania (with Swords), 4th Class London Gazette 20 September 1919.
Henry Francis Leonard Hilton-Green was born in Montreal, Canada, on 2 June 1886, the son of Francis and Mary Hilton-Green. He was educated at Bradfield College 1901-05, and entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1906. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, on 6 October 1906, he was promoted Lieutenant on 7 October 1907, and subsequently passed courses in Mounted Infantry at Longmoor, Forage and Supply at Aldershot, and Musketry at Hythe. He was posted to Malta, November 1910 to January 1911, where he commanded the Battalion Cyclist Company. The 2nd Gloucesters proceeded to North China in September 1913, and were there when war broke out in August 1914. Promoted to Captain on 24 October 1914, the following month he was detached for service with the 27th Divisional Cyclist Company and arrived in France on 22 December 1914.
In November 1915, the 27th Divisional Cyclists were ordered to Salonika. Awarded the Military Cross in January 1916 for services during the previous year, he was appointed Acting Major on 5 December 1916, while commanding a battalion of Army Cyclist Corps. He was awarded the Legion of Honour in May 1917, and won a fine D.S.O. for gallantry in an attack on the village of Kakareska in Salonica on 24-25 October 1917. In June 1918 he received a second mention for his services in Salonika, and in September he was posted to command the 10th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment, then stationed in Bulgaria.
On 27 November 1918, orders arrived for the 10th Devons to proceed to Bucharest, Romania, to represent the British Army at the ceremonial return of King Ferdinand and his British-born Queen Marie to the newly liberated capital city. ‘Having been told that no British troops could be present, the royal couple were thrilled to find the 10th Devons lining the street. The Devons then joined the procession and marched to the central square, where the King took the salute. Queen Marie invited the British officers to tea the next day.’ He subsequently received the Order of the Star with Swords from the King of Romania.
In October 1919 Hilton-Green proceeded to Bombay to rejoin the 2nd Gloucesters and whilst there he was appointed, in 1922, Adjutant of the Simla Rifles (Auxiliary Force, India. From January to August 1927, he served with the 2nd Gloucesters in Shanghai helping to protect the International Settlement during the conflict between Chinese Nationalists and the Communists. The 2nd Gloucesters arrived back at Southampton on 26 December 1928, and Hilton-Green retired on retired pay with the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel on 7 October 1929. In February 1932, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel (Commanding) 4th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (T.F.), from which appointment he retired in February 1936 with the rank of Brevet Colonel.
On 1 November 1940, he was mobilised and posted to the Permanent Ship’s Staff (Troopships) for a voyage from Glasgow to the Middle East and home again. He was appointed Ship’s Staff (O.C. Troops) on 28 July 1941, for Convoy WS10 which left Greenock on 3 August and sailed to Freetown, Cape Town and Suez, returning to Liverpool on 28 November 1941. His next appointment, on 6 January 1942, was again O.C. Troops for Convoy WS15, which departed Liverpool on 12 January for Durban, and returned to Liverpool on 17 May. He finally took part in Convoy WS20, which sailed for Freetown on 13 June and returned on 8 November 1942.
On 27 November 1942, he was posted to No. 15 O.T.C. Colchester, but on 12 December he was transferred to the Unemployed List, and on 1 January 1943, having attained the age limit to recall, he ceased to belong to the Reserve of Officers. Returning to his home in Taunton, Somerset, he quickly joined the Home Guard and was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel (Commanding) 2nd Somerset Battalion. He died at his home at Bradford-on-Tone, Somerset, on 20 January 1965.
www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224
