Morton & Eden

Auction 110  –  18 - 19 November 2020

Morton & Eden, Auction 110

Medals, Orders and Decorations including the Griesbach Collection Part 1

Part 1: We, 18.11.2020, from 11:30 AM CET
Part 2: Th, 19.11.2020, from 11:30 AM CET
The auction is closed.

Description

The C.S.I. Group of 4 awarded to Major-General Henry Wylie, Bengal Army. Having taken part in numerous campaigns in India and in Abyssinia, he served as Chief Political Officer in General Phayre’s Division during the Afghan Campaign of 1878-80, for which he received a mention in despatches. He later served on special duty in Baluchistan on the Northwest Frontier, and as British Resident in Kathmandu, Nepal, between 1891 and 1899, during which time he received the visit of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1893 during his world travels, organising a lavish tiger hunt in his honour, comprising: The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Companion’s neck badge in gold, silver, diamonds and enamel, with onyx cameo centre, by Garrard & Co., with original case of issue (but lacking insert); India General Service, 1854-1895, 3 clasps, Umbeyla, Northwest Frontier, Bhootan (Lieut Attd H. Wylie H.Ms. 1st. Bn. 7th, Regt); Abyssinia, 1867-68, embossed naming to reverse (Lieut H. Wylie 10th Bengal Cavry); Afghanistan, 1878-1880, no clasp (Capt. H. Wylie. C.S.I. Bl. I.); Group swing mounted on bar for wear, with separate riband bar and matching miniatures, all in a velvet-lined display case in the shape of an armorial shield, medals lightly polished, otherwise extremely fine (11). The Most Exalted Star of India: London Gazette: 22.02.1881 - Assistant Political Agent, Baluchistan. Major-General Henry Wylie (1844-1918) was born on 24 July 1844 at Calcutta, India, the son of Macleod Wylie, a Judge, and Ann Wilson Wylie (née Howell). He entered the Army as an Ensign in 1861, serving in the Umbeyla (1863), Northwest Frontier (1863-64) and Bhutan (1864-66) campaigns as Lieutenant attached to the 1st/ 7th Regiment. He then took part in the Abyssinia Campaign of 1867-68 with the 10th Bengal Cavalry (and the Hazara Campaign of 1868 according to one unconfirmed newspaper report), and was promoted to Captain on 18 August 1871. Following this, he was sent on Special Duty to Baluchistan as Assistant to the Governor-General’s Agent from 1875-78, and was present during the Afghanistan Campaign of 1878-1880. According to Shadbolt’s ‘The Afghan Campaign of 1878-1880’, he was appointed at the express recommendation of Sir Robert Sandeman to serve as Assistant Political Officer in Pishin, and afterwards as Chief Political Officer with General Phayre’s Division, taking part in the advance from Quetta to Kandahar in the autumn of 1880. For this work he was mentioned in despatches for ‘the substantial assistance he rendered both during and while preparations for it [the advance] were in progress at Pishin. His influence over the tribes of the northern portion of the assigned districts is remarkable’. In addition to his mention in despatches, he was appointed a Companion of the Star of India on 22 February 1881 and was made Assistant Political Agent in Baluchistan, all apparently in recognition of his political work in the Second Afghan War. Later that year, he was promoted to Major on 4 October 1881. In 1883 he was appointed Assistant Resident Mysore, later serving as Secretary to the Chief Commissioner in Coorg, as Political Agent in Jhallawar between 1885-87, in Bhopal c.1888-90, and latterly as Resident in Nepal, based in Kathmandu, between 1891-1900, replacing Edward Law Durand. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 4 October 1887, and in 1893 Wylie received the visit of Archduke Franz Ferdinand during his world travels. Wylie organised a lavish tiger hunt in his honour, after which the Archduke noted in his diaries: “We were received by the English resident in Nepal, Colonel H. Wylie, who was in charge of our expedition... The arrangement of the hunts is organized by the resident together with an uncle of the maharaja called Kesar Singh, and his son Prem Jamshir. As there was still time when we arrived at Dakna Bagh, I asked to hunt in the surroundings of the camp. The resident then immediately ordered 50 elephants prepared for a hunt (8 March 1893).” Wylie was apparently gifted an ornate hunting knife as a personal gift of thanks from the Archduke, and was promoted to Colonel that same year, also served as Officiating Agent to the Governor-General of India for Baluchistan in 1898-90. He was promoted to Major-General on 10 October 1899 before finally retiring on 15 April 1900. In his private life, on 20 September 1871 he married Melian Rebecca Massy, daughter of John Massy and Alicia Massy (née Chadwick), with whom he had a son and a daughter, and he also later re-married. He died on 5 October 1918 at Glenfarne, Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire. For the awards to his two sons, see lots 732 and 733.
Estimate: £4000-£6000

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Price realized 5'500 GBP
Starting price 3'200 GBP
Estimate 4'000 GBP
The auction is closed.
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