Military Awards from the Collection of John Tamplin

The Boxer Rebellion and Great War group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. W. Swettenham, C.B.E., Royal Artillery

China 1900, no clasp (Captn., 43 Coy. R.G.A.); 1914-15 Star (Major); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col.); Delhi Durbar 1911, mounted as worn, good very fine or better (5) £200-250

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Military Awards from the Collection of John Tamplin.

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William Alexander Wybault Swettenham was born on 16 December 1870, and educated at Shrewsbury School and Bedford Grammar School. After four years’ service in the Militia Artillery he was granted a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 17 August 1893, being promoted Lieutenant on 17 August 1896, and Captain on 1 April 1900. He saw service in Hong Kong, Malta, Ceylon, and India, before taking part in the Boxer Rebellion from April to June 1901 (Medal).

During the Great war he served on the Staff as G.S.O. (2nd Grade) with the Siege Train from December 1914 to 9 July 1915, and as Brigade Major, R.A., No. 3 Group, Heavy Artillery Reserve, from 10 July 1915 until 22 December 1915. He was afterwards employed as Officer in charge of the R.G.A. Training School at Havre from 25 February 1918. He served in France and Belgium at various periods from 15 October 1914 to 22 December 1915, when he was invalided, and from 12 February to 1 June 1918. He was mentioned in despatches London Gazette 1 January 1916, and created a C.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 3 June 1919.