The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael & St George C.M.G.; 1914-15 Star (LT:COL: H.G. STAINFORTH. 4/CAVALRY.); British War Medal (LT.COL. H.G. STAINFORTH.); Victory Medal with M.I.D. Oakleaf (LT.COL. H.G. STAINFORTH.); Delhi Durbar 1911; Memorial Plaque (HERBERT GRAHAM STAINFORTH) - both the C.M.G. and the Delhi Durbar come in their original case/box of issue. The Delhi Durbar accompanied by its miniature.
LIEUT.-COLONEL HERBERT GRAHAM STAINFORTH, G.M.G., O.C. 4TH CAVALRY, INDIAN ARMY. DIED OF CHOLERA, ON ACTIVE SERVICE IN MESOPOTAMIA, MAY 11TH, 1916. AGED 50.
Lieut.-Col. H. G. Stainforth, C.M.G., was the second surviving son of the late Maj.-Gen. Charles Raper Stainforth, Madras Cavalry, and was born May 18th, 1865, at Bellary, India. Attended Tonbridge School 1879—82 (Hill Side). He came to Tonbridge in 1879, and was in the XI. in 1881 and 1882. Having passed through the R.M.C., Sandhurst, where he was in both the XI. and the XV., he obtained his commission May 7th, 1885, in the old 54th Foot, now the 2nd Battn. of the Dorsetshire Regt., which he joined at Peshawar that same year.
He was appointed to the Indian Army and joined the 2nd Bengal Lancers, June 3rd, 1886, but subsequently transferred to the 4th Bengal Lancers, now the 4th Cavalry, in which Regiment he was successively Adjutant 1890—96, second in command, and commandant, being promoted Major in 1903 and Lieut.-Colonel in 1911. From 1889 to 1906 he was Inspection Officer of the Imperial Service Troops, Central India. He accompanied the 4th Cavalry to Calcutta, as second in command, on the occasion of the visit of H.M. King George, for his Coronation as Emperor of India, and the Regiment was employed on special duty as escort to his Majesty.
He had married, in 1901, Georgina Helen, third daughter of Maj.-Gen. Henry Pipon, Major of the Tower of London, and left a widow and three children, two boys and a girl. In addition to being a good cricketer, he was also a very fine polo player. He was a great favourite, and his loss is felt by a wide circle of relations and friends. Soon after the outbreak of WWI his Regiment was ordered to France with the Indian Contingent, and he was in command of it. They served in France and Flanders throughout the operations of the winter of 1914—15, and Col. Stainforth was mentioned in despatches for services up to April 5th, 1915, and awarded the C.M.G. in the list of the King's Birthday Honours, June 23rd, 1915.
The Indian Contingent were subsequently transferred to Mesopotamia, and Col. Stainforth saw a good deal of fighting there in the attempts to relieve Kut, and on one occasion had his horse shot under him. Unfortunately he fell a victim to cholera, and though he had a splendid constitution, the hardships of the campaign—they were often sixteen hours in the saddle,—the indifferent food, the great heat, and finally inadequate hospital arrangements, gave him little chance of recovery, and he passed away on May 11th, 1916, and was buried a short distance up stream from the old Bridge Head on the right bank of the Tigris, at Falahyeh. His King and country have lost in him a gallant and valuable officer. He was again mentioned in the Mesopotamian Despatch, dated August 24th, 1916.
Sold with an original photograph of the recipient, his CMG warrant and other personal documentation with a dossier of research. Medals all in good condition unless otherwise stated.
