A rare and outstanding Third Afghan War M.C. group of nine awarded to Colonel G. G. Rogers, 1st

A rare and outstanding Third Afghan War M.C. group of nine awarded to Colonel G. G. Rogers, 1st Gurkha Rifles: gallant service in the Field aside, he was widely recognized as an expert in Gurkha customs and dialects, published Colloquial Nepali and acted as an adviser and interpreter to the film “Johnny Gurkha”
Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Lt. G. G. Rogers, 2/1 Gurkha Rfls.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. G. G. Rogers); India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24 (Capt. G. G. Rogers, 2-1 Grks.); War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Nepal, Order of the Star, 2nd Class breast star, silver-gilt and enamel, generally good very fine (9) £3000-3500
---
M.C. London Gazette 3 August 1920.
George Gordon Rogers was born at Dharmsala, India in April 1893, a true son of the Gurkha family. His father, Colonel G. W. Rogers, D.S.O. of the 4th Gurkha Rifles, had raised the 2nd Battalion, 1st Gurkha Rifles in 1886 and both his paternal and maternal grandfathers were Major-Generals in the Indian Army - the latter, J.S. Rawlins, had commanded the 1st Battalion: the portraits of the two Commanding Officers hang on the wall of the Mess dining room in Dharmsala.
George - or “Georgie” as he was known to his friends and colleagues - was educated at Bedford College and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in January 1912. He joined the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Gurkha Rifles in Chitral early in the following year and served with his regiment in the operations against rebellious tribesmen in the Swat Valley in August 1915. At the end of that year he was transferred to the Nepalese Contingent, soldiers of the independent Kingdom of Nepal sent to help maintain order in India whilst most of the Indian Army was in France and Mesopotamia. Rogers was probably selected on the basis of his language ability. During this period he also served as Staff Officer at the Mountain Warfare School at Kakul, near Abbottabad, services that were recognised by his appointment to the 2nd Class of Order of the Star of Nepal.
Third Afghan War - M.C.
Rogers rejoined his regiment at Nowshera early in 1919, when, having been advanced to Captain, he was given command of ‘D’ Company. Three days after war had been declared against Afghanistan in May 1919, his battalion left Nowshera by train to join the Third Infantry Brigade in the Khyber Pass area. They arrived at Ali Masjid on the 10th and in the early morning hours of the 11th marched to Landi Kotal where they formed the reserve for an attack on the Afghan positions at Bagh.
In response to the sound of heavy firing, the Battalion made a forced march to Loe Dakka on the 17th and found that a Sikh regiment had just captured Sikh Hill. ‘B’ and ‘D’ Companies were sent to occupy it and had a rough time. They had no food, water was scarce, and they were heavily laden with ammunition and entrenching tools. All this on a stiff climb on a very hot day. That night an Afghan infantry battalion attacked the hill, attempting to recover some captured guns, but was driven off by Lewis-gun fire. The next day the two companies returned to camp, which was now established a little to the south of Fort Robat, near Sherabad Cantonment. Over the next couple of weeks there was little fighting but the battalion had to supply numerous piquets, and also sent out foraging expeditions.
On the 14th June, Rogers provided the piquets and advanced guard for a force sent out to intercept a “lashkar” (tribal raiding party). No opposition was encountered, and two Afghan envoys presented themselves under a white flag, carrying sealed letters from the Amir. They were escorted to Headquarters.
On the ev...
-----
This lot description has been truncated. Please see the Dix Noonan Webb website for the full lot description.