Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The fine group of orders and medals awarded to Major-General Sir William Western, K.C.M.G., C.B., Royal West Kent Regiment, who was wounded in 1897 on the Punjab Fontier and again during the Great War

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, K.C.M.G., Knight Commander’s set of insignia, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, minor chipping to centre of badge and suspension ring a replacement; The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Capt., 1/Rl. W. Kent R.) some pitting from star, India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Major, 1st Bn. Ryl. W. Kent R.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Cape Colony (Lt. Col., R.W. Kent R.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Lt. Col., C.B., RI. W. Kent Rgt.); 1914-15 Star (Col.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Maj-Gen.) the Victory with name erased, France, Croix de Guerre, with bronze palm; Khedive’s Star 1884-6, medals mounted for display; Egypt, Order of the Nile, 2nd Class set of insignia, neck badge and breast star in silver, silver-gilt and enamel, some enamel damage to star; Italy, Order of the Crown, 3rd Class neck badge, gold and enamel, some damage to central gold band, Vatican, Equestrian Order of The Holy Sepulchre, Knight Commander, set of insignia by Cravanzola, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, some enamel damage to star, all mounted for display on a blue velvet covered board, very fine and better (17) £3500-4500

Ex. Squadron Leader Etkins Collection, Glendining’s September 1986; ex B.D.W. 28 July 1993; ex D.N.W. 4 December 2002.

M.I.D. London Gazette 18 March 1898; 10 September 1901; 29 July 1902; 28 June 1916; 13 July 1916; 30 May 1918; 22 January 1919; 5 June 1919.

Major-General Sir William George Balfour Western was educated at Victoria College, Jersey, and entered the 50th Regiment in 1879. He served with the 1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment in the Nile Expedition, 1884-85; Malakand and Buner campaigns, 1897-98, where he was wounded by a gun shot near Inayat Kili on 30 September 1897 and was mentioned in Sir Bindon Blood’s despatch. In the South African War he commanded the 2nd Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment until April, 1901, when he assumed command of a mobile column which he held until the end of hostilities. For his services he was twice mentioned in despatches and created C.B. in 1902.

During the Great War he served on the Staff in Gallipoli from July 1915 to January 1916; Greek Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, European Turkey and the Islands of the Aegean Sea from January to March 1916; Italy from November 1917 to April 1918; Egyptian Expeditionary Force from April to October 1918. He was wounded, mentioned in despatches five times, promoted Major-General in 1916 and created K.C.M.G. in 1919. Placed on Retired Pay in 1920.

Major-General Western died on 9 January 1936. With copied m.i.c. which shows that he was issued with duplicate war medals.