An impressive C.B., C.M.G. group of thirteen awarded to Brigadier-General R. C. Boyle, Royal Munster Fusiliers

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) breast badge converted for neck wear, silver-gilt and enamels; The Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., neck badge in silver-gilt and enamels; India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89 (Lieut., 2nd Bn. R. Muns. Fus.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Capt., Muns. Fus.); King’s South Africa, 2 clasps (Cpt. & Adjt., R. Muns. Fus.); 1914 Star, with Mons bar (Col. R. C. Boyle); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. (Brig. Gen.); Coronation 1911, named ‘Lt. Col., R.M.F.’; Egypt, Order of the Nile, Commander’s neck badge in silver, gilt and enamels; France, Legion of Honour, Commander’s neck badge in gold and enamels; Greece, Order of George I, Commander’s neck badge in silver-gilt and enamels; Italy, Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus, Commander’s neck badge in gold and enamels, the campaign medals court mounted as worn, some enamel chips and hairline cracks to the orders but generally very fine or better (13)

Roger Courtenay Boyle was born on 12 April 1863, son of Major-General Richard Boyle, C.B., Royal Marines. He was educated at Cheltenham and entered the Army in 1885, as 2nd lieutenant, Royal Munster Fusiliers. He served in Burma with the 2nd battalion in the operations against King Thebaw (medal with two clasps). He next served in South Africa during the Boer War, and was Acting Provost-Marshal to a Column under Major-General Douglas in the Western Transvaal, and also to Colonel G. E. Benson in the Eastern Transvaal, being present at the action at Bakenlaagte on 31 October 1901 medal with three clasps, King’s medal with two clasps).

During the Great War Boyle served in France and Belgium, 5 August 1914 to 29 July 1915, firstly as Assistant Adjutant and Quarter Master General to the 3rd Division, and latterly as Brigade Commander to 83 Infantry Brigade (created C.B. 1915). He was appointed Deputy Adjutant General, Salonika Army, from 9 November to 8 December 1915, seeing service in Greek Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, European Turkey, and the islands of the Ægean Sea. As Commander of Alexandria District, from 9 December 1915, he served in Egypt until March 1916, and with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force until October 1918. He was eight times mentioned in despatches during the Great War, twice for services in France 1914-15, once for the Ægean, and five times for services with the E.E.F. He was created C.M.G. in 1918 and received Orders from Greece, France, Egypt and Italy. Placed on the Retired Pay in 1919, Brigadier-General Boyle subsequently lived in Devon and died there on 3 April 1944. For his group of dress miniatures see lot 267.