Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A civil C.B., Great War D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Graham Heywood, Bt., who commanded the 1/1 Staffordshire Yeomanry 1916-18

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Civil) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1944; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Major, Staffs. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. Sir, Bt.); Coronation 1911; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., silver, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919, mounted court-style as worn, together with a later unmarked Baronet’s badge, United Kingdom issue, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse inscribed, ‘Heywood of Claremont, 1838’, very fine and better (8) £1800-2200

C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1946.

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

Graham Percival Heywood was born in July 1878, the eldest son of Sir Arthur Heywood, Bt., and was educated at Sherborne and Trinity College, Cambridge. Commissioned into the Staffordshire Imperial Yeomanry at Lichfield, he was advanced to Lieutenant in October 1904 and to Captain in April 1907, on the formation of the Territorial Force.

A Major by the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Heywood was landed for service in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in November 1915 and was appointed C.O. in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of the 1/1 Staffordshire Yeomanry in March 1916. He subsequently commanded the regiment throughout that year in the campaigns fought by the Western Frontier Force, and in the Palestine operations of 1917-18, and was wounded. During this latter period, the 1/1 Staffordshire Yeomanry advanced on the Suez Canal with the Desert Column, participated in the Battle of Gaza in March-April 1917 and in the advance north-eastwards that November, when the Turks were driven from Akir, and Naaneh captured - the regiment was also engaged in the assault on Sidun-Abu-Shusheh Ridge and in the action at Tahta. And in 1918, it advanced into Samarra, where 22nd Mounted Brigade captured 10 steam locomotives, 50 trucks and three enemy aeroplanes. Finally, after being re-mustered as part of 12th Brigade, 4th Cavalry Division, Heywood led the 1/1 Staffordshire Yeomanry in the final advance through Gilead and Galilee and onward to the capture of Damascus. He was awarded the D.S.O. and twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 1 December 1916 and 12 January 1918 refer). Heywood, who had succeeded to his father’s title in April 1916, served as a J.P., D.L. and High Sheriff for Staffordshire and was awarded the C.B. in his capacity as Chairman of the Staffordshire Territorial Army Association in the New Year’s Honours of 1946. He died later that year, aged 67 years.

Also see Lot 930 for the Honours and Awards of his brother, Major-General C. P. Heywood, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.