A C.B. group of nine to Colonel Sir Arthur Davidson, G.C.V.O., K.C.B., King’s Royal Rifle Corps, later Assistant Private Secretary to King Edward VII, 1901-10, and afterwards Extra Equerry to the King and Equerry to Queen Alexandra

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with ribbon buckle, some loss to reverse central motif; Afghanistan 1878-80, 2 clasps, Ahmed Khel, Kandahar (Lieut: Arthur Davidson, 2/60th Foot); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (Lieut: A. Davidson 2/60 Foot); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (Lieut: A. Davidson. 2/K.R. Rif: C.); Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel; Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, this with additional fitment on lower reverse arm to aid mounting; Jubilee 1897, silver; Coronation 1902, silver; Coronation 1911, mounted for wear, very fine or better (9) £3,600-£4,400

Dix Noonan Webb, June 2006.

Arthur Davidson was born on 12 November 1856, the son of W. Davidson of Welwyn, Hertfordshire, and was educated privately at Petersham. He joined the 60th Rifles in 1876 and served with the 2nd Battalion in the Afghanistan War from October 1878 to November 1880. There he took part in the advance on and occupation of Kandahar and Kelat-i-Ghilzie, and was present at the engagements at Ahmed Khel and Urzoo near Ghuznee, for which he was Mentioned in Despatches. He then served as Aide de Camp to Sir Donald Stewart at Kabul, and accompanied Sir Frederick Roberts in the march to Kandahar as Aide de Camp to Major-General Ross, and present at the battle of Kandahar, for which he was again Mentioned in Despatches.

He then served in the Marri Expedition under General MacGregor and was in the first Boer War of 1881, with the Natal Field Force on signalling duty. In the Egyptian War of 1882 he was present at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir and was awarded the Turkish Order of Medjidie 5th Class. He next served in the Bechuanaland Expedition of 1884-85 under Sir Charles Warren on special service and as Acting Inspector of Army Signalling, for which he was for a third time Mentioned in Despatches. Davidson was appointed A.D.C. to H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge between 1890 and 1895; Groom-in-Waiting to the Queen from 1895 to 1896; Equerry-in-Waiting between 1896 and 1901; and created M.V.O. (4th Class) in 1896. As Equerry and Assistant Keeper of the Privy Purse, and Assistant Private Secretary to King Edward VII, between 1901 and 1910, he was created C.V.O. in 1901 and awarded the C.B. (Military) in 1902, K.C.V.O. in 1908, and K.C.B. (Civil) in 1910. Later appointed Extra Equerry to the King and Equerry to Queen Alexandra, he was awarded the G.C.V.O. in 1921 and was in receipt, amongst others, of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog, Japanese Orders of the Rising Sun, and Sacred Treasure and Greek Order of the Redeemer. Sir Arthur Davidson died on 16 October 1922.