Beschreibung:

The rare Naval General Service Medal group of six medals to Captain Richard Lockington Birdwood, Indian Army, comprising: Tibet 1903, no clasp (Lieut. R. L. Birdwood S & T Corps.); Naval General Service 1909-62, clasp: Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (CAPT. L. BIRDWOOD. I.A. H.M.S. PELORUS.,), impressed in serif capitals; 1914-15 Star (CAPT. R.L. BIRDWOOD, POL. DEPT.); British War and Victory Medals (CAPT. R.L. BIRDWOOD.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; mounted in a silver frame engraved with salient details of the recipient's career, medals all about extremely fine or better. Born 7th September 1879; attended Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieutenant 27th July 1898; joined Indian Staff Corps 3rd November 1899; promoted Lieutenant 14th January 1901; served in the Tibet Expedition 1903-04; Promoted Captain 27th July 1907; Assistant Political Agent in the Persian Gulf; served with Indian Expeditionary Force 'D' in Mesopotamia and was killed in action at Basra 17th November 1914. The recipient came from a distinguished family of Indian Army officers, including his brother, Field Marshall Lord William Birdwood of Anzac. He served as assistant to the Gulf Resident Percy Cox from 1912, and BBM records only 14 Army recipients of the N.G.S. with this clasp, He was killed during the first phase of action of the Great War in the Gulf, an attack on Turkish forces near Fao at the mouth of the Shat-el-Arab. The I.E.F. 'D' War Diary for this period notes only one action, successful but costly, as having taken place on the 17th November 1914: "….we advanced 9 miles up the right back, enemy was encountered….entrenched…strength about 4,500 with 12 guns, enemy made determined resistance, his left flank was turned and his entrenchments carried…. I much regret our heavy losses, due to our advance being over open level plain, without cover, and to heavy rain which made surface impossible for rapid movement of men or horses.." Read more »