Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Delhi Durbar 1911, silver (W. Selby. 1911.12. India.) contemporarily engraved naming, extremely fine £100-£140

D.S.O. London Gazette 20 May 1898:
‘In recognition of services during the recent operations on the North-West Frontier of India.’

William Selby was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, on 16 June 1869 and was educated at Whitgift Grammar School, Croydon, and St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. He joined the Indian Medical Service in 1894, and in the following year served with the Chitral Relief Force. He subsequently took part in the operations on the North-West Frontier of India in 1897-98, including the actions at Samana, August to September 1897; the relief of Gulistan; the actions of Chagru Kotal, Dargai, and the capture of the Sampagha and Arhanga Passes; the operations in the Waran Valley, and the action of 16 November 1897; the operations at and around Dwatoi and the action of 24 November 1897; the operations against the Khani Khel Chamkanis; and the operations in the Bara Valley, 7 to 14 December 1897. For his services he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 5 April 1898) and appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.

Selby was promoted Captain on 28 July 1897, and Major on 29 January 1906, and was subsequently appointed Honorary Surgeon to H.E. the Viceroy of India with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and Principal of King George’s Medical College, Lucknow. He died in Lucknow on 8 September 1916.

Sold with a photographic image of the recipient.