Orders, Decorations and Medals

Eight: Lord Birdwood, 2nd Baron of Anzac and of Totnes, late Lieutenant Colonel, Probyn's Horse, Indian Army.

i THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER, M.V.O. (4th class), reverse numbered 536.
ii BRITISH WAR and VICTORY MEDALS, M.I.D. (2 Lieut.).
iii INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1908-36, 2 clasps, Mahsud 1919-20, Waziristan 1919-21 (Lieut., 2-76 Pjbis).
iv INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1936-39, 2 clasps, N.W.F. 1936-37, N.W.F. 1937-39 (Major Hon'ble, Probyn's Horse). v WAR MEDAL and INDIA SERVICE MEDAL
vi Portugal, MILITARY ORDER OF AVIZ, 5th class, silver gilt and enamel, with ribbon buckle.
The group mounted court style as worn, extremely fine (8)

Christopher Bromhead Birdwood was the only son of Field-Marshal Lord Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood of Anzac and Totnes. He served in the Great War as A.D.C. to his father whilst commanding Anzac Corps in France, 1918 (despatches, London Gazette 5 July 1919, Military Order of Aviz, 5th class). After two years service on the North West Frontier, India 1919-20, he was again A.D.C. to his father, now Field-Marshal and Commander-in-Chief in India. Major Birdwood served with his regiment, Probyn's Horse, on the North West Frontier, from 1936 to 1939, and in the spring of that year he arrived in England as Commander of the Governor of Bombay's Body Guard, in charge of the King's Indian Orderly Officers. It was on this occasion that the King invested him with the M.V.O., and the medal of the Order on each of his Indian Orderly Officers. He retired, as Lieutenant-Colonel, from the Indian Army in 1945 and began a long period of service with many important Associations and Committees:- British Red Cross, Germany, 1947; Chairman, Anglo GermanAssociation; Vice-Chairman European Atlantic Group; Member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs; Member of Councils; East India Association; Anglo-Arab Association; Member of the British delegation, UNO., 1959; Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society. He succeeded his father as 2nd Baron of Anzac and of Totnes in 1951, and died in 1962.