Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The unique Great War C.B.E., ‘Niger Sudan Campaign 1897’ D.S.O. group of six awarded to Colonel A. J. Arnold, 3rd Hussars

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar, pin removed from this; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Niger 1897 (Lieut. A. J. Arnold. 3/Hussars); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Rhodesia (Lt. Colonel A. J. Arnold. 3/Drgn: Gds:); British War Medal 1914-20 (Bt. Col. A. J. Arnold); Royal Niger Company Medal 1886-97, 1 clasp, Nigeria 1886-1897, silver issue (Brevet Lt-Col. A. J. Arnold D.S.O.) the last five mounted as worn, the first with chips to white enamel and minor losses to both wreaths, otherwise better than very fine (6) £6,000-£8,000

Only 36 known British army recipients of the rare Royal Niger Company medal in silver. The medal was awarded to Africans in bronze with clasp ‘Nigeria’ and numbered on the edge.

The only D.S.O. awarded for the ‘Niger Sudan Campaign 1897’.

Alfred James Arnold was born in Manchester on 10 April 1866, third son of Alfred Rr Arnold, and Durnvilia, daughter of W. J. Taaffe, County Dublin. He was educated at a private school, and at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and originally enlisted into the 5th Dragoon Guards in 1886. He was gazetted Second Lieutenant, 3rd Hussars, in 1893, and joined the Royal Niger Constabulary in 1894. He commanded the same from 1895 to 1899 and commanded troops throughout the Niger Sudan Campaign operations of 1895-96, including the battles of Egbon, Bida and Ilorin in 1897, being mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 11 June 1897) promoted to Captain and Brevet Major. He received the Medal and clasp, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 15 June 1897): “Alfred James Arnold, Lieutenant, 3rd Hussars, commanding the Forces of the Royal Niger Company; In recognition of services during the Niger Sudan Campaign.”

The Galloping Third by Hector Bolitho records:

‘When the regiment returned to Aldershot, in May 1895, Lieutenant Chaworth-Musters took his detachment, with their wigs and costumes and ancient matchlocks, to the Royal Tournament at the Agricultural Hall in Islington. Eighteen months later, this 'most promising' young officer, 'an excellent rider, and a good sportsman', was leading the mounted troops of the Royal Niger Company, during one of the little wars waged by the European Powers in the 'scramble for Africa'. In this instance, the enemy was the powerful Mahommedan emir of Nupe, 350 miles up the Niger. The 3rd Hussars deserve some credit for the success of the expedition: another of their officers, Major A. J. Arnold, was in command of the 500 Hausas who defeated upwards of 20,000 of the emir's troops at Bida, on January 26, 1897, and then marched to Illorin, where all the district submitted to the authority of the Company. The journals of the time recall the wild outburst of joy among the negroes who had thus been ‘secured from slave-raiding’. Major Arnold received the D.S.O.:
Lieutenant Chaworth-Musters, who had been ‘foremost in setting an example to the native levies’, was unfortunately ‘stricken down with fever’ and he died on the ship that was bringing him home.’

Arnold became Captain, 3rd Dragoon Guards, on 3 March 1898, and served on the Niger in 1899, on the Expedition to Siama, being promoted to Major and given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel, 8 July 1899.  For his services in the Transvaal War of 1901 he was mentioned in Despatches on 7 March 1899, and received the Medal with clasp.  He was given the Brevet of Colonel on 8 July 1905.  Colonel Arnold retired on 14 November 1906.  He was ‘Inspector of Exploitation for the Portuguese Chartered Company at Beira, Mozambique in East Africa, 1899-1913, receiving an annual salary of £1500 from the Mozambique government, whilst drawing no pay as an officer of the British Army. During the Great War he commanded the 20th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, at home, 1914-15, and the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, at Gibraltar from August 1915, being mentioned for services during the war in 1918, and created Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1919. The British War Medal is confirmed as his sole entitlement for the Great War. Colonel Arnold was also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Sold with some copied research including Medal Index Card.