Orders, Decorations and Medals

Nine: Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Thomas Bernardo Bignold-de-Cologan, Marques de Torrehermosa, 5th Battalion London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade); Commandant and Inspector of Army Bands, Royal Military School of Music, 1942-46

1914-15 Star (Lieut. A. T. B. de Cologan, 5/Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.A. T. B. de Cologan); Defence and War Medals; Coronation 1937; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., unnamed, with top bar; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial, reverse dated ‘1951’; with Second and Third Award Clasps (both G.VI.R.); Belgium, Order of the Crown, 5th Class breast badge, silver and enamel, mounted for wear, good very fine (9) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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Arthur Thomas Bernardo de Cologan was born on 8 December 1890 at Lochrosque, near Strathbran. He was the son of Alberto de Cologan, Marques de Torrehermosa of Arotavia in Teneriffe, the title dating back to 1671. Arthur de Cologan succeeded to the title in 1920 and in 1921 he changed his name by deed poll with the addition of ‘Bignold’ - his mother’s maiden name.

De Cologan was educated at the Oratory School, Edgbaston and at The Queen’s College, Oxford, where he graduated with a B.A. Whilst at Oxford he served in the O.T.C. and in July 1910 he was granted a commission in the Unattached List (T.F.). After relinquishing this commission in December 1912, he was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th (City of London) Battalion London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) in April 1913. He was promoted to Lieutenant in April 1914. He was next seconded as an Assistant District Commissioner in the Somaliland Protectorate, 3 July 1914-30 May 1915, and was attached to the Somaliland Camel Corps as a Company Officer, April-May 1915. Rejoining the 1st Battalion London Rifle Brigade in France on 18 July 1915, he was appointed a Temporary Captain in August 1915 and advanced to that rank in March 1916. Captain de Cologan was taken prisoner on 1 July 1915. After the Armistice he returned home to Scotland. For his wartime services, in addition to his three British medals, he was awarded the Belgian Order of the Crown (London Gazette 7 February 1921). De Calogan was promoted to Major in the London Rifle Brigade in July 1920. He then served on the T.F. Reserve from February 1921 until June 1924 when he rejoined the active T.A. and became a Captain in the L.R.B. Captain Bignold-de-Calogan was awarded the Territorial Decoration in 1929, this notified in the London Gazette of 10 May 1929. He was advanced to Major in April 1930; Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1934, and Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1939. He commanded the 2nd Battalion L.R.B., May 1939-February 1940.

On 22 October 1942 he was appointed Commandant and Inspector of Army Bands, the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall. He retained this position until 1946 when he became Commandant of the Polish Military Camps in Caithness. Having exceeded the age limit, he retired on 12 December 1947, retaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. For his continued long service, he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration (Territorial) and 2 clasps, these being notified in the London Gazette of 25 May 1951. After his retirement he became a member of the County Council of Ross and Cromarty in 1949, and was for several years Chairman of the Police Committee. He was appointed a D.L. for Ross and Cromarty in 1960. Lieutenant-Colonel Bignold-de-Calogan, Marques de Torrehermosa, T.D., D.L., B.A., died on 14 February 1968 aged 78 years. He was buried at Acharalt. With copied research.