An interesting ‘Afghanistan 1919’ C.I.E., ‘Waziristan’ Civil C.B.E., and ‘North West Frontier’ Military O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Bruce, C.S.I., C.I.E., C.B.E., Indian Political Department

The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, C.I.E., Companion’s 3rd type neck badge, gold and enamels; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 1st type neck badge; O.B.E. (Military) 1st type breast badge; China 1900, no clasp (Lieutt. C. E. Bruce, 26th Baluch Infy.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Maj. C. E. Bruce); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1921-24 (Maj. C. E. Brues, Pol. Dept.) note garbled spelling of surname on this; Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed, the last six on original court mounting as worn, good very fine (8) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late Alan Wolfe.

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O.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 22 March 1919: Military operations on the North West Frontier of India.

C.I.E. London Gazette 3 August 1920: Military operations in Afghanistan.

C.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 3 June 1925: For services as Deputy Commissioner, Dera Ismail Khan, N.W. Province.

C.S.I. London Gazette 1 March 1929.

M.I.D. London Gazette 30 April 1919 (North West Frontier), 14 May 1920 (North West Frontier), and 12 April 1921 (Afghanistan).

Charles Edward Bruce was born on 23 March 1876, third son of Richard Isaac Bruce (see Lot 378). Educated at Wellington College and R.M.C. Sandhurst, he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers as 2nd Lieutenant in 1896, and transferred to the Indian Army the following year, being posted to the 24th Baluchistan Regiment. He served in China with a draft of the 24th, attached to the 26th Baluchis, at Pekin in 1900 (Medal), and later took part in the operations on the North West Frontier against the Darwesh Khel Wazirs in 1902.He served on the North West Frontier during the Great War, with the Marri Punitive Force from March to June 1918 (O.B.E.). He served in Afghanistan and on the North West Frontier in 1919 (despatches, C.I.E.), and in Waziristan in 1923 (despatches twice, C.B.E.) and again, as Officiating Resident, in 1926 (C.S.I.). His last appointment was as A.G.G. and Chief Commissioner in Baluchistan, 1930. Lieutenant-Colonel Bruce died in England on 24 January 1950.