Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine long service C.B. group of six awarded to General Sir George Corrie Bird, Indian Army, who commanded the Tochi Field Force on the Punjab Frontier in 1897

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 18 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1887, complete with gold ribbon buckle; Jubilee 1897, silver; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Lt. G. C. Bird, 35th Madras N.I.); Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Ahmed Khel (Maj. G. C. Bird, 1st Punjab Cavy.); India General Service 1854-94, 1 clasp, Burma 1889-92 (Coll. G. C. Bird, Staff); India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Major Gl. G. C. Bird, I.S.C.) mounted as worn, together with a coloured photograph of the recipient in a glazed gilt frame with brooch pin to reverse, some contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (7) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late Alan Wolfe.

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George Corrie Bird was born on 11 June 1838, son of George Bird of the Madras Civil Service and Laura Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Daniel Corrie, Bishop of Madras. He was educated at Cheltenham and entered the Madras Army in September 1856, being posted to the 35th N.I. in January 1857. During the mutiny he was employed on the staff of Walpole’s moveable column in the North Canara campaign from March to December 1858, being also present in various skirmished and pursuits. Having been promoted Lieutenant in October 1857, he advanced to Captain in 1868, and to Major in 1876.

Bird served in the Afghan war of 1878-80, as Brigade Major to the Cavalry Brigade of the Ghuznee Field Force, and was present at the engagement of Ahmed Khel (despatches) and Padhao Shana (despatches, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel). Promoted to Brevet Colonel in March 1885, he was made a Companion of the Bath in 1889, appointed Assistant Adjutant General, Madras, in 1891, and served on the Staff during operations in Burma in 1892-93. Bird was promoted to Major-General in 1895 and assigned command of the Oudh District. During the 1897-98 campaigns on the Punjab Frontier, he commanded the Tochi Field Force, under Sir William Lockhart, being mentioned several times in despatches and created K.C.I.E. in 1898. His own despatches of these operations were published in the London Gazette on 11 February 1898. He was promoted to Lieutenant-General in 1899, and full General in 1904, retiring that year after 47 years service with the Indian Army. General Bird died at Boulogne on 20 December 1907, aged 79.