Awards to the Indian Army from the Collection of AM Shaw

A C.M.G. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. L. Robertson, Royal Engineers Survey Department who was Survey Officer with the Malakand Field Force in 1897-98, and was decorated for services with the Chile-Argentine Boundary Commission in 1903

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge with breast suspension fittings and ribbon buckle, silver-gilt and enamels, in R & S Garrard fitted case for a breast badge; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, N.E. Frontier 1891 (Lieutt. C. L. Robertson R.E. Survey Deptt.); India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Captn. C. L. Robertson, R.E.); British War Medal (Lt. Col. C. L. Robertson) nearly extremely fine (4) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Awards to the Indian Army from the Collection of AM Shaw.

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C.M.G. London Gazette 20 November 1903: ‘For services on the Chile-Argentine Boundary Commission.’

Charles Lonsdale Robertson was born in Tunbridge Wells on 13 February 1867. He entered the Army in 1886 as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 24 July of that year. Robertson was employed on Survey duties with the Waziristan Delimitation Escort in 1894, including the action at Wano, and in a similar capacity with the Waziristan Field Force in 1894-95, under Sir William Lockhart. Promoted to Captain in December 1896, he was next employed on Survey duties with the Malakand Field Force on the North West Frontier from August 1897 to January 1898, including the action at Landakai, Mohmand (Despatches London Gazette 11 January 1898). He was attached temporarily to the Headquarters of the Mohmand Field Force, and afterwards to the Buner Field Force, for Survey duties, including the attack and capture of the Tanga Pass.

A contemporary news cutting accompanying the group tells of an alarming incident that occurred during Robertson’s service in India: ‘Lieutenant Robertson, R.E., recently had a very narrow escape. He was out riding and met a Ghazi champion runner, and offered to race him. Being defeated in the contest the Ghazi attacked Lieut. Robertson with his “tulway,” inflicting a severe gash upon his neck, which brought the officer to the ground. The faithful horse defended his master from further injury by kicking at the Ghazi and attempting to bite him, and but for this affectionate behaviour the Ghazi would doubtless have succeeded in killing the young officer. The Ghazi was secured by two natives and subsequently hanged.’

Roberston subsequently took part in the Mishmi Expedition (Despatches) and in 1902 was one of two Survey Officers appointed to accompany Sir Thomas Holdich, K.C.I.E., C.B., R.E., to form the Chile-Argentine Boundary Commission. They went out to South America early in 1902 and returned after eight months’ work in the field. The difficulty of determining the true watershed had been very great, but the result was eminently successful. The award of King Edward VII was based on the report of the Commission and signed in November 1902 to the satisfaction of both disputants. Robertson was created C.M.G. for this work. Sir Thomas Holdich published his experiences on this Commission in a book entitled Countries of the King’s Award.

Robertson received promotion to Major in April 1905 and to Lieutenant-Colonel in September 1913. Continuing his survey work in India during the Great War, he was appointed Superintendent of the Survey of India in 1919 and retired in 1921.