COLONEL HENRY GEORGE GANDY, DSO, OBE, R.E.

[QSAMIKE]

COLONEL HENRY GEORGE GANDY, DSO, OBE, R.E.

27 Nov 1879: Born at Barndale House, Alnwick, Northumberland, son of Captain Charles Gandy, 1st King's Dragoon Guards, and Mrs. Dorothy Jane Gandy

Educated at Seabank School, Alnmouth, and Sedbergh School, Yorkshire, and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.

14 Mar 1899: Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Engineers.

25 July 1901: Promoted Lieutenant

1901 - 1902: Service in the South African War. Awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps [CAPE COLONY] [ORANGE FREE STATE] [TRANSVAAL][SOUTH AFRICA 1901][SOUTH AFRICA 1902].

1902 - 1904: Service in Africa. Awarded the Africa General Service Medal with clasps [SOMALILAND 1902-04] [JIDBALLI]. Served in the third and fourth expeditions against the Mad Mullah in East Africa (Abyssinia and Somaliland) with the Telegraph Detachment, Royal Engineers.

08 Jun 1906: Appointed Adjutant, Royal Engineer Volunteers.

14 Mar 1908: Promoted Captain.

01 Apr 1908: Titled changed to Adjutant, Royal Engineers Territorial Force.

1908: Fired in the Class I Competition of the Royal Engineers Rifle Association. Took 4th place with a score of 91/100. Was assigned at the time to the Northumbrian Division Royal Engineers.

13 Jan 1909: Vacated post of Adjutant, Royal Engineer Territorial Force.

21 Jan 1909: Employed with the Egyptian Army.

24 Jan 1909: Appointed Assistant Director of Telegraphs in the Sudan. Gandy held the post for less than two years. He was invalided on October 23rd, 1912, and never returned to the Sudan. During his brief tour of duty he was occupied chiefly in surveying under most trying conditions in unhealthy areas.

1910: In the spring of 1910 he reconnoitered up the Sobat River for a line to connect Taufikia with Nasir, close to the Abyssinian border.

1912: In the beginning of 1912 he surveyed up the pestilential Bahr el Ghazal from Tauifikia to Meshra er Req to determine the feasibility of connecting Tauifikia by telegraph with Meshra. This project was abandoned, however, when he reported that 40 miles of cable would be needed for the line.

He was remembered in the Sudan, not only as an engineer, but as an artist whose sketches and caricatures gave pleasure to many.

21 Feb 1913: Vacated the post of Assistant Director of Telegraphs.

28 Mar 1913: London Gazette announcement of the award of the Order of the Medjidieh, 4th Class.

1914: To France and Flanders with the Old Contemptibles.

Sep 1914: Mentioned in the Despatches of Field Marshal Sir John French (1). Slightly Wounded and Invalided to England.

25 Nov 1914: Joined the 107th Field Company, Royal Engineers with the 26th Division. The company was formed at St. Mary's Barracks in Chatham.

Jun 1915: Mentioned in Despatches.

23 Jun 1915: London Gazette announcement of the award of the Distinguished Service Order. DSO awarded for work with the 2nd Corp R.E. from Aug 1914 to Apr 1915.

12 Aug 1915: Promoted Major.

01 Jan 1916: Appointed Brigade Major and Secretary, School of Military Engineering, (S.M.E.), Telegraph and Signals Section, Chatham, Kent .

Jun 1918: Awarded the O.B.E.. 09 Oct 1918: Vacated post of Brigade Major and Secretary of the S.M.E.

For service in the Great War awarded the 1914 Star and bar, British War Medal, and Victory Medal with MID device.

23 Oct 1919: Appointed Assistant Military Attaché to His Majesties Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal.

Dec 1920: Serving in Gibraltar.

22 Nov 1924: Promoted Lieutenant Colonel.

Jun 1926: Serving as Commander Royal Engineers in Ceylon.

1927: Still listed as serving under the Foreign Office.

Sep 1928: Serving in Colombo Ceylon. Lt. Col. Gandy played for the "Brewery Billiard Cup". The cup was presented by the Ceylon Brewers for annual competition between teams of five from the senior Messes in Colombo. Gandy's team won 4 of the 5 games played.

22 NOVEMBER 1928: Promoted Colonel - Gazette Issue 33442 published on the 27 November 1928. Page 9 of 124

1929: Address listed as Wester Hall, Humshaugh, Northumberland. Club: Junior Naval and Military. Serving as Deputy Chief Engineer, Southern Command.

18 may 1932: Retired pay. - Gazette Issue 33827 published on the 20 May 1932. Page 7 of 74

1938: Still living at same address in Northumberland.

Cannot find any service during WW2. (i.e. Home Guard)

Died: July 19th, 1950.

"Royal Engineers in Egypt and Sudan”

by Lt. Col. E.W.C. Sadler

Chapter: ELEPHANTS AND CROCODILES, Page 432

Captain H. G. Gandy, R.E. held the post of Assistant Director for less than two years , for he was invalided on October 23rd, 1912, and never returned to the Sudan. During his brief tour of duty he was occupied chiefly in surveying under most trying conditions in unhealthy areas. In the spring of 1910, he reconnoitred up the Sobat River for a line to connect Taufikia with Nasir, close to the Abyssinian border. In the beginning of 1912, he surveyed up the pestilential Bahr el Ghazal from Taufikia to Meshra er Req to determine the feasibility of connecting Tauifikia by telegraph with Meshra er Req. This project was abandoned, however, when he reported that 40 miles of cable would be needed for the line. He was remembered in the Sudan, not only as an engineer, but as an artist whose sketches and caricatures gave pleasure to many. The post or Assistant Director vacated by Gandy was filled on February 21^st, 1913 by Lieutenant R. Chenevix rench, R.E. And officer from the Signal Companies at Aldershot, who arrived in Khartoum on March 7^th.

ORIGINAL WATERCOLOUR BY H G GANDY 1926

This stunning watercolour is signed H G Gandy 1926 and is in excellent condition. The painting comes in what looks like its original gilt frame which is also in good condition. Although, I do not know the title of the item, I am told it is of a park in possibly Singapore or that area which ties in with Gandy’s military history.

Colonel Henry George Gandy DSO OBE RE was born 27/11/1879, at Barndale House, Alnwick in Northumberland, England, the son of a British Army officer. After being educated locally he followed the career path of his father and received a commission in the Royal Engineers in 1899 after which he saw service in South Africa during the Anglo-Boer War. His interest in art flourished during his army career which allowed him to visit many parts of the world and paint scenes still considered exotic to most Europeans at this time. In between the Boer and First World Wars Gandy served in Somaliland, Egypt and the Sudan where he became well known for his sketches and caricatures.

A lot of his paintings were completed between 1924 and 1928 during which time Gandy was serving as a Lieutenant Colonel with the Royal Engineers in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The popularity and quality of his artwork was demonstrated by the fact that his scenes of Hong Kong, China and Singapore were reproduced in books and also on postcards by the famous publishers Raphael Tuck. His work serves as a record of cultures and ways of life which have now changed almost beyond recognition in many of the countries that he visited. H. G. Gandy retired from the army in 1932 after an illustrious career, during which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, Order of the British Empire, and Turkish Order of the Mejidie. He died at Hampshire, England in 1950 at the age of 70.

The following paintings by Gandy were sold at auction:

Bonhams:

4th November 2003 Victoria Harbour Hong Kong Signed Watercolour

23.5cms x 33.7cms Estimated £600-900 - Sold £1200.00

 

20th March 2007 Sailing Ship on the River Signed Monochrome Watercolour Dated 1925 Estimated £400-600 - Sold £950.00

Francis Augustus Ferguson - DSO – Life Story

Francis Augustus Ferguson came into this world on 4th March 1883 in Ireland. He was the second of five children to Reverend Clive J. Ferguson (an Anglican Minister).

His brothers and Sisters were:

• William – A minister who became head of Theology at McGill University and retired in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

• Charles – Ran a cinema and had a variety of jobs. The “black sheep” of the family. Travelled to Tristan da Cuna and married a native girl at 18, then moved to London and later to Canada

• Louise – Killed by a car in the blackout in London during WW2.

• Adelaide – Married Henry Gandy. Sang on the radio and toured, giving classical concerts. Harry Gandy died in 1950 and she spent the rest of her life in the West Indies and Rhodesia.

On 10 January 1911 Lieutenant Francis Augustus Ferguson was attached to the Egyptian Army as a Deputy Assistant Director of the Post and Telgraphic Department of the Sudan Government to Captain H.G. Gandy who had been been appointed as Assistant Director on 24 January 1909. In a couple of years H.G. Gandy was invalided back to England on 23 October 1912. Francis’s would later become the Captain’s Borther-In-Law.

Later in 1928, Francis becomes the Commander of the Royal Engineers in Ceylon, a post he took over from his old acquaintance of years past Colonel Harry Gandy (from the Sudan posting). Colonel Gandy likely pulled some strings as he had by then married Francis’s sister, Adelaide. By this time Francis had an addition to his family as his wife and daughter soon joined him on this assignment.

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189. – CC, 3935 Pte W. Weissner

of the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire, was killed in action Slingersfontein 12 February 1900, buried Worcester Hill Memorial. Sold with copied medal roll.

EF 4,500 – 7,500 RAND

The men of the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment embarked at Southampton on the troop ship “Tintagel Castle” on the 17 December 1899 and headed for the war in South Africa as reinforcements for the British Army under Field Marshal Lord Roberts.

After disembarking at Cape Town on the 8 January 1900 they quickly made their way northwards towards the town of Rensburg where Lieut.-General Clements was holding back the Boers who were now concentrated at Colesberg some 10 miles north of the British line.

It was here that the 2nd Battalion joined General Clements Brigade together with the 1st Royal Irish and the 2nd Battalion Wiltshires. The British line maintained a semicircle extending from Slingersfontein upon the right flank to Kloof Camp upon the left, and the general scheme of operations continued to be an enveloping movement upon the right. General Clements commanded this section of the forces on the right. The British lines had gradually stretched until they were now nearly fifty miles in length. On the 12th February 1900, the right flank of the British at Slingersfontein was attacked by the Boers commanded by General De la Rey. The Boers made a fierce onslaught on the key British position which, was a kopje held by three companies of the Worcester’s 2nd Battalion. As they had done at Ladysmith, the Boers came forward under cover of darkness between the set of moon and rise of sun and the first intimation that the Worcester’s outposts had of their presence was the rush of feet and loom of figures in the cold misty light of dawn.

Taken by surprise the advanced sangars occupied by the Worcesters were quickly overrun and all the occupants were killed. Soon half the kopje was in possession of the Boers who shouted gleefully and firing continuously pressed forward.

The Worcesters however were steady old soldiers and the Battalion contained no less than four hundred and fifty marksmen in its ranks.

Clearly many of these were amongst the men of the three Worcester Companies on the hill and their fire was so accurate that the Boers soon found themselves unable to advance any further. Throughout the long day, a long and desperate duel was maintained between the two lines of riflemen. Fortunately, with the supporting fire of the guns of “J” Battery which were quickly brought out into the open, the British fire was so deadly that they were able to dominate the Boers and, although reinforced, they endured heavy loses. Eventually with the coming of darkness the Boers were forced to withdraw having sustained a loss of over two hundred killed and wounded. Similarly, General Clements also ordered that the whole right wing should be drawn in and the “victorious” Worcester companies were also withdrawn. The British losses in the action were twenty-eight killed and nearly a hundred wounded or missing, most of which was incurred when the sangars were rushed in the early morning.

 

 

[Coldstreamer]

Must be a unique group ? It’s very impressive 

[QSAMIKE]

Good Morning......

Thank you for your comment.....  Yes I think that it may be unique.....

Funny thing the first medals that I ever purchased (Not owned) were to Coldsream's......

From my Catalogue, yes I still have them.....

Mike

 

SHIELD, T. (THOMAS) (also shown as Shields)

QUEEN'S & KING'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDALS

REG. NO.: 9574

RANK: PRIVATE

REGT: COLDSTREAM GUARDS, 1st BATTALION

BARS: BELMONT, MODDER RIVER, PAARDEBERG, DRIEFONTEIN, JOHANNESBURG, DIAMOND HILL, BELFAST

DATE OF PURCHASE: SEPT. 10, 1960 (FIRST MEDALS I EVER PURCHASED)

PRICE AT TIME OF PURCHASE: $35.00 CDN (exchange L 17.50 GBP in 1960)