A Fine Collection of Medals to the South Wales Borderers

The Q.S.A. awarded to Brigadier General H. G. Casson [C.B., C.M.G.], South Wales Borderers, who was M.I.D. for his services with the 1st Battalion during the Second Boer War, and subsequently commanded the 2nd Battalion during the Great War - including when they landed at Lao Shan Bay for operations against the German territory of Tsingtao in September 1914, and during their landing at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915. Casson commanded the 87th Infantry Brigade as part of the 52nd Lowland Division in Gallipoli - including during the Battle of Krithia

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, South Africa 1901 (Capt. H. G. Casson. S. Wales. Bord.) good very fine £380-£420

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals to the South Wales Borderers.

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C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

C.M.G. London Gazette 16 March 1915.

Hugh Gilbert Casson was born in January 1866, and was the son of the Reverend George Casson. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers in August 1886. Casson served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa, April 1900 - October 1901 (M.I.D. London Gazette 10 September 1901). He advanced to Captain in November 1892, to Major in June 1904, and to Colonel in June 1915.

Casson, ‘died recently [February 1951] in North Wales, at the house of his brother, was little known to the present generation of the 24th, but to those who served with the 1st Battalion from 1886-1912 and with the 2nd Battalion between 1912 and 1914 he represented above all other things the “Spirit of the 24th”; to him the 24th came first and the rest did not matter....

He was, I know, a very good Rugby player, a good Polo player and a brilliant gymnast. He was a pupil of Eugene Sandow in physical culture, weight lifting, etc. Many will remember the feats of strength he showed in the Mess in Quetta in 1909, and I well remember him showing a class in the gymnasium how to do exercises on the horizontal bar dressed in his uniform with his boots and gaiters on.

It was, however, not only in feats of sports and strength that he excelled, because he was selected as Adjutant of the 1st Battalion as a young subaltern, and this in the days when the appointment of Adjutant was looked upon as the “plum” of all appointments.

In 1900 the 1st Battalion went to India and immediately made a name for itself in polo throughout the whole of India, winning practically every cup it went in for. Casson often played as a member of the team, which contained such well-known players as Melville, Cooke, Gray and Smith.

Whatever he did he paid the greatest attention to all details of organisation. Everyone who served with him will remember the way the training of polo ponies was organised, the way he taught others to make polo sticks, the way Regimental “At Homes” were organised, the organisation of the Officer’s Mess. All bore the hall-mark of his meticulous attention to detail...

In 1910 Casson went home with the 1st Battalion and later proceeded to South Africa to take over Command of the 2nd Battalion. Though he had not served with the 2nd Battalion since the South African War, from now onwards he threw himself whole heartedly into the life of his new battalion.... he put all his energies into his new battalion, which had just started its foreign service, and he did a great deal to foster that spirit of comradeship which has since existed between the Officers and Other Ranks of both Battalions.

In 1912 he took us to China.... Then came Tsingtao and our first baptism of fire in September 1914, and we could not have started on Active Service under a better Regimental leader. Gallipoli followed and it was now that I could really see and feel what the Regiment meant to him and what he meant to the Regiment. He thought only of the Regiment and how he could produce it fighting fit and oraganised for one of the hardest tasks it had ever been called upon to perform, the landing at Helles.

The Battalion had a great deal to thank the Commanding Officer for in the early days of the campaign and it was mainly due to his minute attention to every detail of organisation that our casualties compared to others were so light.

Within a few weeks of the landing, Casson was selected to command a Brigade in the 52nd Lowland Division; but it was most difficult for Corps H.Q. to persuade him to give up his beloved Battalion. It was only by direct order of the Corps Commander that he left the 24th after 29 years Regimental soldiering....

He was an exceedingly good trainer and organiser. In Action he was calm and collected and afraid of nothing. He was an excellent Regimental leader, always helpful and understanding, particularly to his junior officers, who knew that they could always go to him with their troubles. But the one characteristic which stood out for all to see and appreciate was his admiration and love of the 24th, and wherever his name is mentioned this will always be remembered by those who served with him.

He would want no better epitaph than this

“One of the 24th.” (Obituary included in The Journal of The South Wales Borderers and The Monmouthshire Regiment, No. 39, May 1951 refers)

Casson lead his Battalion when they landed at Lao Shan Bay for operations against the German territory of Tsingtao. He also commanded them during their landing at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915, and shortly after was made Temporary Brigadier General and appointed to the command of the 87th Brigade as part of the 52nd Lowland Division - including during the Battle of Krithia. He retired in 1919 (M.I.D. and Serbian Order of Karageorge)

Sold with riband bar for C.M.G. and Great War trio, photographic image of recipient in uniform and copied research.