Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Mr E. F. Thomas, C.S.I., C.I.E., Indian Civil Service, District Magistrate of Malabar during the Moplah Rebellion there in 1921-22

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. E. F. Thomas.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Malabar 1921-22 (E. F. Thomas. Dist. Mgte.); Volunteer Force Long Service Medal (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Trooper E. F. Thomas. S. Prov. M. Rif. A.F.I.) mounted as worn, toned, nearly extremely fine (3) £500-£700

Edward Francis Thomas was born on 30 June 1880, and was educated at St Paul’s School and Trinity College, Oxford. He joined the Indian Civil Service in 1903 and arrived in Madras the following year. Passing through the usual stages of assistant collector and magistrate, he was temporarily attached to the Indian Police; Secretary, Board of Revenue, Madras, 1915; joined Indian Army Reserve and was attached to Army H.Q., India, 1917; collector and district magistrate, Malabar, 1919, and held this position when the Moplah rebellion broke out on 21 August 1921 (created C.I.E. 1922); Director of Industries, Madras, 1922-26; joined Board of Revenue, 1931; First Member Board of Revenue, 1935-38. He was created C.S.I. in 1935 and retired in 1938, living in Durban, South Africa, until his death on 10 August 1954.

Sold with extract from The History of the Madras Police covering the significant part played by District Magistrate Thomas during the Moplah rebellion, and specifically with regard to the murder of Assistant Superintendent of Police C. B. Lancaster (whose medal was sold in these rooms on 18 September 2014).