A Great War ‘East African operations’ M.C. and Bar group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Pottinger, Indian Army

Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, unnamed; 1914-15 Star (Captain J. A. Pottinger, 1/30/Punjabis); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. J. A. Pettinger); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32 (Lt. Col. J. A. Pottinger, 3-16 Punjab R.) mounted court style for display, note spelling of surname, last with scratch to obverse, very fine and better (5)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards.

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M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916. ‘Captain, 30th Punjabis, Indian Army’.

Bar to M.C. London Gazette 17 April 1917. ‘Capt., Punjabis, Ind. Army’. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. By his skilful dispositions he concealed the presence of his company from the enemy. Later, he took a prominent part in the fighting, and handled his company with marked courage and efficiency under the most difficult circumstances.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 February 1917 (East Africa); 20 December 1932 (Burma).

John Ashton Pottinger was born in India on 28 July 1884 and was educated at Cheltenham College, Gloucestershire, 1898-1902, and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, 1902-1903. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion Liverpool Regiment on 10 October 1903. Entering the Indian Army, he was promoted to Lieutenant in the 35th Sikhs Regiment in July 1907 and was posted to the 30th Punjabis in November 1907. In October 1912 he was promoted to Captain. During the war years he served with the 30th Punjabis but was on occasion attached to the 29th Punjabis and 36th Sikhs. He served in East Africa, 1 September 1914-May 1915 and December 1916-March 1917. During 1918 he served in Mesopotamia and with the North Persia Force. Pottinger was appointed Acting Major in December 1917 and was promoted to that rank in October 1918. Awarded the M.C. for his services during the military operations in East Africa (possibly for the action in the Tsavo Valley, September 1914), he was later awarded the Bar to his M.C. for his services at the action at the Rufiji River on 6 January 1917. Continuing his military service after the war, he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1929, being appointed Officer Commanding the 3rd Battalion 16th Punjab Regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Pottinger retired from the Indian Army on 1 June 1932. Sold with a large quantity of copied research, including Indian Army List, gazette and war diary extracts.