Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.S.O. group of four awarded to Major E. A. Widdowson, New Zealand Army Medical Corps

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (3/463 Major. E. A. Widdowson. N.Z.E.F.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (3/463 Major E. A. Widdowson. N.Z.E.F.) nearly extremely fine (4) £2,000-£2,400

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1918.

Eric Arthur Widdowson was born in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, on 11 November 1888 and enlisted at Otago on 21 October 1914. Commissioned a Captain in the New Zealand Army Medical Corps, he embarked for service with the 2nd Reinforcement, New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Wellington on 14 December 1914, and served during the Great War at Gallipoli; with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force; and on the Western Front. Promoted Major on 13 December 1917, he served latterly with No. 1 New Zealand Field Ambulance, and for his services during the Great War he was Mentioned in Despatches by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig ‘for his gallant conduct and devotion to duty during the period 25 September 1917 to 24 February 1918’ (London Gazette 28 May 1918), as well as being appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. Returning to New Zealand on 20 May 1919, he was discharged on 21 August 1919, and in later life practised as a G.P. in England. He died on 29 April 1959.

Sold with a portrait photograph of the recipient, housed in a glazed display frame.