Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.C. and Second Award Bar group of five miniature dress medals worn by Lieutenant-Colonel R. Blandy, 9th Gurkha Rifles, late Royal Munster Fusiliers

Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar; India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, North West Frontier 1908, Waziristan 1919-21; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, mounted court-style with torn Spink & Son label to reverse, nearly extremely fine (5) £240-£280

M.C. London Gazette 25 August 1917:
‘For Distinguished Service in the Field in Mesopotamia.’

M.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 11 January 1919:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty [in Mesopotamia]. He commanded with great-ability a patrol which, under the fire of the enemy, discovered after dark a ford over the river by which the troops crossed on the following night. But for his intrepid action the troops would not have been able to cross.’

Raleigh Blandy was born at Funchal, Madeira, on 22 May 1884, a scion of the famous Blandy family that controlled the Madeira Wine and Shipping trades. Commissioned into the Indian Army on 29 August 1906, he served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers during the Mohmand campaign 1908 before transferring to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Gurkha Rifles. In December 1911, his unit, as part of the Dehra Dun Brigade, took part in the Coronation Durbar in Delhi (Medal).

From April to October 1913, Blandy commanded a group of 11 Gurkhas who were signallers assigned to the Triangulation Survey Party in the Pamirs. Promoted Captain on 29 August 1915, he served during the Great War in Mesopotamia from late September 1916, and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry during the crossing of the Tigris River at ‘Shumran Crossing’ on 23 February 1917 - an epic action for 2nd Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles, and their seminal battle honour for the Great War: Major Wheeler, leading the first ‘assault tow’, was awarded the Victoria Cross, and Lieutenant Russell an immediate D.S.O. Blandy himself was in command of the 'Second Tow', and the regimental history of 9 Gurkha Rifles describes his part in the forced landings at Shumran, as follows:
‘Immediately after landing the first tow, the ten boats started on their return journey. But shelling and small arms fire permitted only six to reach. These were loaded with 'C' Company under Captain R. Blandy and Lieutenant S. D. Gladstone, but gain came under heavy small arms fire, wounding or killing the rowers. Captain Blandy seized the oar and guided the boat in, collecting two bullets through his left sleeve and whilst disembarking, was wounded in the abdomen by a bullet which providentially deflected off his belt buckle, thus not proving fatal.’
During the crossing of the ‘Shumran Bend’, 2/9 Gurkha Rifles suffered a total of 107 casualties, including 7 British Officers, of whom 2 were killed and another 5 (including Blandy) were wounded.

Blandy was awarded a Second Award Bar to his Military Cross for reconnaissance work in advance of another river crossing later in 1917; and for his services during the Great War was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 15 August 1917 and 12 March 1918). In May 1918, he transferred to the newly-raised 4th Battalion, 11th Gurkha Rifles as a Company Commander, which proceeded to take part in the final Palestine campaign, and continued to serve with them until their disbandment in India in late 1919. Returned to the 9th Gurkhas, Blandy was promoted Major on 29 August 1921, and by 1927 was serving with the Burma Military Police. He returned to his unit in 1928 and was appointed Second-in-Command, served with in the Malakand. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 3 June 1932, he commanded the 2nd Battalion from 1932 until his retirement on 1 January 1935. He died in 1967.

Sold with the recipient’s riband bar; and four photographic images of the recipient.

Note: The recipient’s full sized awards, also mounted court-style by Spink & Son, were sold by Spink in April 2014.