The regimentally unique K.B.E., C.M.G., D.S.O. group of twelve awarded to Colonel Sir...

The regimentally unique K.B.E., C.M.G., D.S.O. group of twelve awarded to Colonel Sir Herbert Bryan, Colonial Secretary of Gold Coast and of Jamaica, late Manchester Regiment

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, K.B.E. (Civil) Knight Commander’s 1st type set of insignia;, comprising neck badge and breast star, silver-gilt and enamels; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamels; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top ribbon bar; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 3 clasps, 1897-98, 1898, 1900 (Capt: H. Bryan, Manch: Rgt:); Ashanti 1900, high relief bust, no clasp (Capt: & Bt: Maj: H. Bryan. Manch. R.); Africa General Service 1902-56, high relief bust, 1 clasp, Gambia (Major H. Bryan, Manch: Rgt.); 1914-15 Star (Major H. Bryan C.M.G. North’d Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Bt. Lt. Col. H. Bryan.); Coronation 1902, silver; Coronation 1937; France, Third Republic, Medaille d’Honneur, with swords, silver-gilt, the last ten mounted court-style as worn, some minor enamel chips, otherwise good very fine and better (13) £6,000-£8,000

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K.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 3 June 1925: ‘Colonel, C.M.G., D.S.O., Colonial Secretary and Revenue Commissioner, Island of Jamaica.’

C.M.G. London Gazette 29 June 1906: ‘Brevet Major, Colonial Secretary of the Gold Coast.’

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1918: ‘Capt. & Bt.-Lt. Col. (T./Lt.-Col.) C.M.G., R. of O., ret. pay, Manch. R.).’

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1916 (France); 24 December 1917 (France); 11 June 1918 (Salonika); 30 January 1919 (Salonika); and 5 June 1919 (Salonika).

France, Medaille d’Honneur avec Glaives en Vermeil London Gazette 21 July 1919.

Sir Herbert Bryan was born on 13 June 1865, he son of the Rev. H. Bryan, Lyddington House, Rutland, and was educated at Oakham School. After serving in the ranks of the 7th Hussars from 1885 to 1892, he was granted a commission in The Lincolnshire Regiment. and was promoted Captain in The Manchester Regiment in 1899. He was selected in 1897 for service in West Africa where a serious dispute had arisen between Great Britain and France over claims to certain territories in the hinterland of Lagos, and in Northern Nigeria. He was employed at first in the hinterland of Lagos and then look part in certain operations on the Niger, including the expedition to Barsema, and was mentioned in dispatches Medal with two Clasps).
On 1 January 1900, the rights and possessions of the Royal Niger Company were transferred to the Crown, and a British protectorate was established over Northern Nigeria. During the first year of its existence the Government of the protectorate was engaged in bringing under control the native states within its borders. Bryan served with the forces employed in this task and was again mentioned in dispatches (Clasp). In the same year serious trouble arose on the Gold Coast, where, in consequence of an attempt on the part of the Government to obtain possession of the "Golden Stool" of the Ashanti, the tribe had risen in arms and besieged the Governor and some on the local troops in Kumassi. An expeditionary force consisting of contingents from the British colonies and protectorates in West Africa and commanded by Colonel (afterwards General Sir James) Willcocks was dispatched to deal with the situation, and Bryan served as deputy assistant Adjutant-General on the Staff, and was once more mentioned in dispatches (Medal).
In 1901 he was employed as Chief Staff Officer of the force sent to the Gambia to punish the town implicated in the murder of two travelling commissioners and six constables in the previous year, and to stamp out the spirit of rebellion which had spread throughout the protectorate in consequence of the long delay in bringing the murderers to justice. The expedition was entirely successful, and the protectorate resumed its normal peaceful condition in a very short time (Medal with Clasp). In 1898 the military forces of the West African colonies and protectorates had been amalgamated into a single force, known as the West African Frontier Force, and placed under the command of an inspector-general, to whom a Staff officer was attached. Bryan held the latter appointment from 1901 to 1903.
In 1904 he was promoted to be Colonial Secretary of the Gold Coast, which was then entering on a period of considerable development. In the expansion of railways, of trade, and of education and health services Bryan played an important part, especially as he acted as Governor on various occasions in 1904-9 and again in 1911-12. He was twice thanked by the Secretary of State for his services, and was made a C.M.G. in 1906. In August 1914, he was promoted to be Colonial Secretary of Jamaica, but he rejoined the Army in January 1915. In December of that year he was given the command of the 9th Battalion of The Northumberland Fusiliers. During the rest of the war he served in other capacities in France, Flanders. and Salonika, and after the war was employed from 1918-19 at Constantinople. He was mentioned five times in dispatches, and was awarded the D.S.O. in January 1918. He was also awarded the French Medaille d'Honneur avec Glaives.
In 1919 he resumed his duties as Colonial Secretary of Jamaica, and in the years which followed acted on various occasions as Governor.
On his retirement in 1925 he was created a K.B.E., and settled down in Wiltshire, where he interested himself in public work, being director of the county branch of the British Red Cross and controller of the county branch of the V.A.D. In 1901 Sir Herbert married Agnes Christobel, daughter of Mr. C. A. Wetenhall, Stanwick, Northants, who died in 1938, leaving no children. Sir Herbert died on 28 September 1950.

Sold with two ribbon bars and a Jubilee 1935 medal, together with copied research.