Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Silver-plated Presentation Cigarette Box, 189mm x 83mm x 47mm, E.P.C.A. (Poole Silver Company marks to base) with wooden inlay, the top engraved ‘Presented to Brigadier B. O. P. Eugster DSO, OB [sic- presumably intended to read OBE], MC by the Commandant of the United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia, March 1962’, silver plating tarnished in places and worn at the extremities, otherwise good condition £50-£70

K.C.B. London Gazette 13 June 1970.

C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1966.

K.C.V.O. London Gazette 8 June 1968.

C.B.E. London Gazette 2 June 1962.
The recommendation states: ‘Brigadier Eugster arrived in Cyprus in July 1959 to assume command of 3 Infantry Brigade Group, the Theatre reserve. Although the Emergency in Cyprus had more or less passed the “shooting” stage, the situation was uneasy, particularly in Nicosia where his Headquarters was situated. In February 1960 when negotiations leading to the Cyprus Treaty were in their most involved stage, he also assumed command of Central Area Cyprus which included Nicosia and the surrounding Area. When the sovereign Base Areas were set up, he was responsible for setting up the headquarters responsible for the Dhekelia Area. During the Kuwait operations he sent one of the battalions of is Brigade to Kuwait and he and his Headquarters moved to Kenya temporarily to relieve the HQ that had moved thence to Kuwait. He has handled his Brigade over the whole period with outstanding skill and success and in particular his tactful but firm handling of the local civil authorities during negotiations and since the Independence of Cyprus has had a profound effect on the good relations of the Army with the Cypriots.’

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1957.
The recommendation states: ‘Throughout the last two years Lieutenant-Colonel Eugster has maintained a very high standard of work and devotion to duty. In addition to hid normal duties he has, during the past year, been responsible for much of the organisation of, and detailed work on, the V.C. Centenary celebrations. He has cheerfully accepted long hours and has shown the greatest ability in dealing with the innumerable problems which arose. He displayed tact and firmness in co-operating with the other Services, with outside bodies and with individuals. In particular, his special qualities of liaison were apparent in his consultation with the Royal Household and Lord Chamberlain’s Office on all matters affecting the Royal Family and ensured the smooth organisation of the functions affecting them.’

D.S.O. London Gazette 24 May 1945:
‘On 21 February [1945] at Hommersum Major Eugster, in temporary command of 3rd Battalion Irish Guards, during the absence of his commanding officer on sick leave was ordered to carry out an attack on Vrij. The attack was intended to mop up some know enemy localities and to secure a bridge site over a water obstacle which would open up a good road for the maintenance of the battalion on its objective. The attack involved an advance of some 3000 yards over waterlogged country impassable to wheels and only passable with great difficulty along certain routes by tracks.
Opposition was very much greater than expected and though by 1700 hours the battalion was practically up to its objective they had suffered heavy casualties including two company commanders killed and all the officers of one company casualties. Control was extremely difficult as several of the wireless vehicles were bogged in the atrocious going, and could not keep up with the company commanders.
As a result the situation became confused and it became clear that it would be impossible for the battalion to consolidate successfully where it was or even to maintain it as the bridge site was not sufficiently securely held. Major Eugster was therefore ordered to withdraw behind his start line. This difficult and hazardous operation he carried out most successfully. He was forced to move about for long distances on foot under heavy shell and mortar fire owing to the bogging of some of his wireless sets, in order to organise the withdrawal. In spite of this and the very confused situation Major Eugster remained completely calm and collected and organised a most careful and well thought out plan for his withdrawal, including a comprehensive artillery programme.
As a result he got practically all his wounded away and was even able to extricate all his vehicles except those which had actually been hit by enemy fire. His coolness, quick brain and personal disregard of danger were an inspiration to all, extricated his battalion from an extremely unpleasant situation and saved a very large number of casualties.’

M.C. London Gazette 5 August 1938 (Palestine):
‘For gallant conduct while in command of a company during an engagement near Deir Ghassana on 16 September 1938’

M.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 6 August 1940 (Norway):
‘Although himself wounded, he commanded his company with great coolness when forced to withdraw. In this action a river had to be crossed, the bridge having been previously blown. Captain Eugster organised the forming of a chain made by knotting all the rifle slings together, and after this chain had been taken across by a strong swimmer, he himself went first to test its strength, being under heavy machine gun fire the whole way over. By his courage and coolness against odds during the whole action, he was a striking example to his N.C.Os. and men as to what a British Soldier should be.’

Sir Basil Oscar Paul Eugster was born in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, on 15 August 1914. He joined the Irish Guards in 1935, and served with them in Egypt and Palestine in 1938 and during the Second World War in the Narvik campaign, Norway. He was twice wounded, on 15 and 28 May 1940, whilst serving with the 1 Battalion Irish Guards, as part of the 24 Guards Brigade, before being appointed an Instructor, Officer Cadet Training Unit, in 1940; He attended the Staff College at Camberley in 1943, and was subsequently appointed Brigade Major, 140 Infantry Brigade, with the Central Mediterranean Force in 1944; further appointments included General Staff Officer Grade 2 (Operations), Headquarters 5 Corps, Central Mediterranean Force 1944; Commanding Officer 3 Battalion, Irish Guards, North West Europe 1945; General Staff Officer Grade 1, Guards Division, British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) 1945-1947; Commanding Officer 3 Battalion, Irish Guards 1947; Joint Services Staff College 1950; Commanding Officer 1 Battalion, Irish Guards 1951-1954; Assistant Adjutant General, War Office 1954-1956; Commandant, Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School 1956-1958; Commander, Mons Officer Cadet School 1958; Imperial Defence College 1959; Commander 3 Infantry Brigade Group and Dhekelia Area, Cyprus 1959-1962; Commandant, School of Infantry, Warminster 1962-1963; General Officer Commanding 4 Division, British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) 1963-1965; General Officer Commanding London District and Major General commanding Household Brigade 1965-1968; Commander British Forces, Hong Kong 1968-1970; General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command 1971-1972; Commander-in-Chief, UK Land Forces 1972-1974; Aide-de-camp to the Queen 1973-1974. General Sir Basil Eugster retired in 1974, and died in Exeter in 1984.