Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War C.M.G. group of three awarded to Colonel R. J. Strachey, Rifle Brigade

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1887-89 (Lieut., 4th Bn. Rif. Brig.); India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Captn., 3d Bn. Rif. Bde.), the campaign awards with engraved silver riband buckles, good very fine or better (3) £800-1000

C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1918:

‘For services in connection with the War.’

Richard John Strachey was born in Putney, London in May 1861 and was educated at Wellington College and the R.M.C. Sandhurst. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, the Rifle Brigade in January 1881, he was embarked for India that March, where he was advanced to Lieutenant and witnessed active service with the 4th Battalion in Upper Burma operations, December 1888 to March 1889, in which latter month he was appointed D.A.Q.M.G. to 3rd Brigade. Having then returned to England, he was next appointed, in March 1890, A.D.C. to His Excellency the Governor and C.-in-C. Queensland, but he returned to active service in the rank of Captain in the 3rd Battalion in the Punjab Frontier operations of 1897-98, latterly as D.A.Q.M.G.

Strachey was placed on the Retired List as a Lieutenant-Colonel in July 1911, but was re-employed on the Staff in the Great War and awarded the C.M.G., in addition to a Silver War Badge on being placed back on the Retired List in July 1918 - there is no indication on his MIC entry of any other awards. The Colonel, who married Grace, daughter of Field Marshal Sir Henry Norman, died at Abingdon in October 1935.