Beschreibung:

A fine Great War C.M.G and Boer War D.S.O. group of nine awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. King, Royal Lancaster Regiment, late Camel Corps, Egyptian Army. A man of action who had several horses shot from underneath him, and aside from his gallantry award was mentioned in despatches on 9 separate occasions - and in all 3 of the wars that he was engaged in The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge converted from a breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (Capt. A. J. King. Cam. Cps. E.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Relief of Mafeking, Defence of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (Major. A. J. King. R. Lanc: Rgt.) top lugs neatly removed; 1914 Star (Lt: Col: A. J. King. D.S.O.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaves (Lt. Col. A. J. King.); Turkey, Order of Medjidie, 4th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 5 clasps, Firket, Hafir, Sudan 1897, The Atbara, Khartoum (Capt. King [sic] King’s Own.) medals mounted for display, minor enamel damage, good very fine (9 £4,000-£5,000 Footnote Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2010. C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1918. D.S.O. London Gazette 19 April 1901. M.I.D. (9) London Gazette 3 November 1896; 24 May 1898; 3 September 1898; 2 December 1899; 23 March 1900; 8 February 1901; 21 June 1916; 25 September 1916; 21 January 1918. Alexander James King was born on 15 July 1863, the only son of the Rev. Edward King, B.A., F.R.H.S., F.S.A. Scot. He was educated at Radley College and entered the British Army from the Militia on 12 November 1884, joining the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. His first overseas posting was to India, December 1888-May 1892, after which he returned to England, being promoted to Captain in July 1892. His first taste of active service was with the Camel Corps of the Egyptian Army, which service he joined in October 1894, holding the local rank of Bimbashi. During his 4 years service with the Camel Corps, he participated in all of the major actions during the reconquest of the Sudan 1896-98, including the Dongola Expedition and the battles of Firket and Hafir (Despatches); the Nile Expedition of 1897 (Despatches); Omdurman Expedition including service with the flying column and cavalry reconnaissance 21 March 1898, and at the battles of Atbara and Omdurman (Despatches). In addition to his three mentions in despatches, Alexander King was awarded the 4th class Order of the Medijide, and given the brevet of Major (London Gazette 16 November 1898) in respect of his services in the Sudan. Brevet Major King served in the United Kingdom from October 1898 to May 1899. On the 19th January 1899 a dinner was held in honour of Major-General Archibald Hunter, in recognition of his services in the Sudan, by the Officers of the 2nd Battalion (The Royal Lancaster Regiment) at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, where the Regiment was then stationed. ‘The Mess was brilliantly illuminated and decorated with Egyptian Colours and the Menu cards on the table were held by miniature Dervishes. Brevet Major A. J. King who had recently returned from the Sudan lent a large number of Dervish Dresses, Lances, Spears, Shields and Drums which he had brought home with him.’ He was then posted to India again, where he remained until October 1899. During this time he was appointed A.D.C. to Sir Archibald Hunter, K.C.B., D.S.O. With Hunter he was then posted to South Africa where Hunter was appointed Lieutenant-General White’s Chief of Staff at the siege of Ladysmith. Following the lifting of the siege of Ladysmith, King was posted as D.A.A.G., March-April 1900. He then rejoined Hunter in operations leading to the relief of Mafeking, being appointed 'Commandant' with the local rank of 'Lieutenant-Colonel' and placed in command of the Kimberley Mounted Corps in the