Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Major-General Sir A. J. F. Reid, K.C.B., Indian Army, who served with the 29th Punjab Infantry in the Second Afghan War and was dangerously wounded at Peiwar Kotal, was mentioned in despatches on numerous occasions, commanded the Malakand Relief Force in 1897 and the 3rd Infantry Brigade in China 1900-01

Delhi Durbar 1903, silver; Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Peiwar Kotal (Cap. A. J. F. Reid. 29th Ben. N.I.); India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Hazara 1888, Samana 1891(Major A. J. F. Reid 29th Bengal Infy.); India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Chitral 1895, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Malakand 1897 (Col: A. J. F. Reid 29th Bl. Infy.); China 1900, no clasp (Brigdr. Gl. Sir A. J. F. Reid K.C.B.) these five mounted in order as listed on original wearing bar; U.S.A., Military Order of the Dragon (Alexander J. F. Reid. C.B. Major General I.S.C. No. 588.)) complete with Pagoda top suspension and original embroidered silk riband, contained in fitted carrying case, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine or better (6) £3,000-£4,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers.

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Alexander John Forsyth ‘Jock’ Reid was born at Auchindoir, Aberdeenshire, on 21 August 1846, second son of Rev. William Reid. After leaving Aberdeen University (M.A., LL.D.), he joined the 109th Regiment, from Sandhurst, as 2nd Lieutenant on 18 January 1867. He arrived in India to join his regiment in May 1867, and was officiating Quartermaster from October 1869 to November 1871. Promoted to Lieutenant on 6 May 1871, he was appointed to the Bengal Staff Corps and posted as a Wing Subaltern to the 42nd Native Infantry. He transferred to the 30th Punjabis in July 1871, and attended Roorkee Engineering College from January 1873 to September 1874, being appointed Assistant Engineer, Bengal Public Works Department in March 1874. After two years’ furlough to the U.K. he was appointed Wing Officer in the 1st Bengal N.I. in May 1877, and in the same capacity in the 29th Punjab N.I. in August 1878.

He served in the Afghan War of 1878-80 and was dangerously wounded at Peiwar Kotal (Despatches, medal with clasp). He was in the U.K. on medical certificate from April to October 1879, and afterwards served in the Zaimukht Expedition and action of Zawa; with the Southern Afghanistan Field Force 1881, as Assistant Road Commandant on the Quetta-Kandahar Line (Brevet of Major). Appointed Second-in-command of the 29th Punjabis in September 1886, and promoted to Major in January 1887, he took part in the Hazara Expedition of 1888 and the action at Kotkai (Despatches, medal with clasp, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel). He was appointed Commandant of the 29th Punjabis in November 1889, and took part in the 1st and 2nd Miranzi Expeditions of 1891 (Despatches, Samana clasp). Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1893 and to Colonel in January 1894, he next took part in the relief of Chitral in 1895 (Medal with clasp).

In the operations on the North West Frontier in 1897-98, Reid commanded the Malakand Relief Column and was present at the relief of Chakdara and Malakand; and in the Utman Khel expedition when he again commanded the column (Despatches three times, two clasps). In recognition of these services he was appointed a Companion of the Bath on 20 May 1898.

He was appointed Brigadier-General and G.O.C. Assam District on 8 December 1898, a post he held until August 1903. Meanwhile, Reid commanded the 3rd Infantry Brigade in the operations of the China Expeditionary Force 1900-1901 (Despatches, medal). He was on this occasion created a K.C.B. for his services on 25 July 1901. He was promoted to Major-General, 2 May 1903, and attended the 1903 Delhi Durbar (Medal). He ceased to be employed from 8 December 1903, and was afterwards Chairman of the Aberdeen Territorial Association. He married in 1908, Alexandra Catherine Dyce, eldest daughter of Sir David Stewart of Banchory-Devenick, Aberdeenshire. Appointed Colonel of the 29th Punjabis on 11 June 1909, he held this appointment until his death at Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, on 4 September 1913.

Sold with copied record of service and other research, and an original copy of Sketches on Service during the Indian Frontier Campaigns of 1897, by Major E. A. P. Hobday, R.A., containing a full page portrait of Colonel Reid; Hobday was Reid’s Staff Officer in this campaign.