Orders, Decorations and Medals Including five Special Collections

Four: Lieutenant Colonel H. C. Lonsdale, Lancashire Fusiliers, wounded during the Great War, and subsequently present in Ireland during the Sinn Fein Rebellion

British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); Defence and War Medals; together with two bronze sporting medals, one named; identity disc, inscribed ‘Capt. & Adjt., 19 L.F.’; and a fascinating and detailed record of his military service, all of which is written on to an official Army Form (No. B199A), first two a little polished and with contact wear, therefore generally nearly very fine and better (7) £180-220

The following information is extracted from Army Form B199A, the original of which is included with the lot:

Henry Christopher Lonsdale was educated at Victoria College, Jersey and Royal Military College Sandhurst. He was gazetted a Second Lieutenant, 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers in February 1916, embarking to France on 26 June following. In France he was posted to the 19th (Service) Battalion; promoted Lieutenant, 26 July 1917, and Captain, 28 July 1917; Assistant Adjutant, 12 December 1916 to 27 April 1917; and Adjutant from 28 April 1917 to 30 April 1918.

Lonsdale was severely wounded at Mount Kemmel, Belgium on 15 April 1918, receiving gunshot wounds to both legs and his right hand. He was not sufficiently recovered enough to resume active service until September 1919, at which time he was posted to the 1st Battalion of his old regiment. On 12 December 1919 he was posted to Dublin, Ireland, where he served during the latter stages of the Sinn Fein Rebellion until 15 December 1922. During this period Lonsdale was appointed Adjutant of the 1st Battalion.

On 27 June 1924 he was appointed A.D.C. to the G.O.C. in Chief, Western Command, Lieutenant-General Sir R.H.K. Butler, K.C.B., K.C.M.G.. He relinquished this post in April 1927 and returned to his old regiment, with whom he served until his retirement in March 1936.

During the Second War Lonsdale was recalled to the army, serving in various capacities, including, command of a detachment from the Infantry Training Centre, Lancashire Fusiliers; Local Defence Commander, Ballykelly, Northern Ireland; and Local Defence Adviser, Belfast R.A.F. Station. He was invalided from the services in March 1945, as a ‘result of previous war wounds’. Lieutenant Colonel Lonsdale died on 14 December 1959.