Beschreibung:

The important D.S.O. and Bar, M.C. group awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. F. Stirling, Royal Dublin Fusiliers and Royal Flying Corps, Chief of Staff to Lawrence of Arabia and Advisor to Emir Feisal in Damascus Distinguished Service Order, E.VII.R., with Second Award Bar; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (Lieut., R. Dub. Fus.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut., R. Dub. Fus.) minor official correction to one letter of surname on both Boer War medals; 1914-15 Star (Capt., R. Dub. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major); Egypt, Order of the Nile, 4th Class breast badge, silver and enamel; Italy, Order of the Crown, 5th Class breast badge, gold and enamels, reverse centre lacking; Syria, Order of Merit, breast badge, gilt metal and enamels; Hedjaz, Order of El Nahda, a rare first type 2nd Class set, comprising neck badge, 50mm, and breast badge, 80mm., both pieces in silver, gold and enamels, complete with original plaited neck cord; Albania, Order of Scanderbeg, a scarce first type Grand Cross set of insignia by Cravanzola, Roma, comprising sash badge, 70x52mm., silver-gilt and enamels, and breast star, 87mm., silver, gilt and enamels, complete with full dress sash, together with a copy of his autobiography Safety Last, London 1953, some minor enamel chips but generally very fine or better (12) £12000-15000 Footnote D.S.O. London Gazette 28 January 1902: Lieutenant, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, ‘For skill and gallantry in action at Kaffirspruit, 19 Dec., 1901.’ Bar to D.S.O. London Gazette 8 March 1919; citation London Gazette 4 October 1919: Major, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Reserve of Officers, M.C. ‘For gallant service rendered rendered during the operations resulting in the occupation of Damascus by Arab Forces. By his example and personal courage whilst leading the Arabs he, in conjunction with another officer, was mainly instrumental in securing the successful occupation of the town and the establishment, without grave disorder, of the Arab Military Authorities therein.’ The other officer referred to in the above citation is almost certainly Lawrence himself. M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918: Captain, Reserve of Officers, late Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Walter Francis Stirling was born on 31 January 1880, son of Captain Francis Stirling, R.N., who was last heard of having left Bermuda on that same day in command of the Atalanta training frigate, presumed lost at sea with all hands, 280, shortly afterwards; one of the notorious ‘Bermuda triangle’ mysteries. Young Walter spent much of his early life at Hampton Court Palace where Queen Victoria had set aside a wing for widows of Naval officers who died in the course of duty. He was educated at Sandhurst and entered the Royal Dublin Fusiliers as a Second Lieutenant in 1889. Sterling served during the Boer War in South Africa with the 4th Division Mounted Infantry in Dundonald’s Brigade, Natal Field Force, and afterwards as Adjutant, 14th Mounted Infantry. He took part in operations which included the Relief of Ladysmith and the actions at Laing’s Nek, Belfast and Kafferspruit. Sterling’s service with the Mounted Infantry during the latter part of the war mostly involved long drives against the blockhouses. ‘This,’ he wrote ‘entailed dividing the countryside into huge triangles, marked out at every six or eight hundred yards with armoured blockhouses interconnected with double barbed-wire fences. It was a laborious process but profitable, for once a Boer Commando got into one of the triangles, our mounted troops could then line up and sweep the whole country, driving the enemy up against one of the blockhouse lines where they either had to surrender or else fight their way out.’ ‘On my return from one of these drives I received two Telegrams. One was from Lord Kitchener and said: “Con