Orders, Decorations and Medals

An extremely rare Edward V11 Tibet D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel G. C. Hodgson, 32nd Sikh Pioneers
Distinguished Service Order, E.V11.R.; India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1901-2 (Lieutt., 32nd Pjb. Pioneers); Tibet 1903-04, clasp, Gyantse (Lieutt., D.S.O., 32nd Sikh Pioneers); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Abor 1911-12, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Captain, D.S.O., 32nd Sikh Pioneers); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. (Lt.Col.); Delhi Durbar 1911; Special Constabulary L.S., G.V.R., some chipping to central wreaths on the first, otherwise good very fine (8)

D.S.O. London Gazette 16 December, 1904 “George Cecil Hodgson, Lieut., Indian Army. In recognition of services with the Tibet Mission Escort.” Nine D.S.O.’s awarded for Tibet, Hodgson being the only Lieutenant so honoured.
George cecil Hodgson was born 10 July 1876, son of Lieut-Colonel G. R. Hodgson, Bombay Staff Corps. He was educated at the United Services college, Westward Ho! and entered the Army in January 1897; joined the Indian Staff Corps March, 1898, and became Lieutenant, 34th Punjab Pioneers, 30 April, 1899. He served in Waziristan 1901-02; and in Tibet 1903-04, taking part in the action at Niani; operations at and around Gyantse where he was severely wounded, and the march to Lhassa. He was mentioned in despatches London Gazette 13 December, 1904, and awarded the D.S.O. The following extract is taken from ‘The History of the Sikh Pioneers’ by Sir George MacMunn, and concerns the attack on the village of Tagu, near Gyantse: “A first attempt to blow a breach failed, matches having got wet wading the river, but the next attempt in which Lieut. Gurdon and Havildar Wachawa Singh laid the charge was successful, though the gallant Sikh was shot through the head. Lieut. Hodgson now charged through the breach, as soon as the smoke and dust subsided. As he climbed to the upper storey, a Tibetan rushed at him and cut him over the wrist as his hand was on the ladder. Hodgson ran his assailant through the body with his sword, but had received a nasty wound. Many of the garrison jumped from the walls, only to fall into the hands of another company of Sikhs, and the whole garrison were killed or captured. The Pioneers’ casualties were two killed with Lieut. Hodgson and five wounded.”
Hodgson became Captain in January 1906, and after taking part in the 1911 Durbar, served in the Abor Expedition of 1911-12. He was promoted Major on 25 January, 1915, and served in the European War as D.A.Q.M.G., India, until 12 October, 1916; Acting Lieut-Colonel, December 1916 to February 1918, and again in December 1918. He served in Afghanistan on the North West Frontier in 1919 and was promoted to Lieut-Colonel on 1 February 1921. He retired as Colonel on 1 February 1926 and died on Christmas Eve 1949.