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Auction: 15002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 488

An Extremely Rare Presentation Medal to Lieutenant-Colonel W.F. Charter, M.C., Commanding Officer of the British Legation Guard During The Civil Uprising in Addis Ababa, May 1936
Silver Presentation Medal, 53mm, obverse worded 'Presented to the British Legation Guard By the British Community at Addis Ababa to Commemorate Services Rendered 2nd to 6th May 1936', reverse engraved in upright sans-serif capitals, 'Major W.F. Charter, M.C.', with eyelet and ring suspension, edge bruising, very fine, with original newspaper cutting dated 8.5.1936 and numerous copies of cuttings (lot)

M.C. London Gazette 25.8.1917 2nd Lt. William Forster Charter, Sco. Rif., Spec. Res.
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His company formed part of a working party two hundred yards from the enemy lines. They were discovered and subjected to very heavy shell fire. When ordered to withdraw, he remained behind and succeeded in getting in all the wounded of his company, working under very heavy fire. He also went out to order the covering party to withdraw, when all the working party had gone in. His great coolness and disregard of danger contributed very largely to the orderly nature of the withdrawal, whereby many casualties were avoided.'

Lieutenant-Colonel William Forster Charter, M.C. (1893-1977), born Egremont, Cumberland; son of Commander W.F. Charter, R.N.; educated at Bedford School; he 'was planting in Ceylon prior to the outbreak of hostilities in 1914. He was on Sogama Estate, Pussellawa and joined the Milward Contingent by the members of which he will be remembered as a very fine boxer. On his arrival in England he was given a Commission in the 13th Cameronians and was drafted to France where he was wounded in July 1917. He was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry about this time and in the following year was transferred to the Indian Army with the rank of Lieutenant being promoted Captain in 1919 and reached Field rank in 1933.

It will be recalled that the departure of the Emperor of Abyssinia from Addis Ababa on May 2nd of this year [1936] was the signal for grave rioting in the Ethiopian Capital. Hooligans and disbanded soldiers sacked the Palace, roamed the streets shooting and plundering while the city was in flames. It was during this trying time that Major Charter and his small band of Sikhs played a heroic part in the defence of the Legation and in the rescue of foreigners of all nationalities from the armed mobs then in control of the city. Major Charter's services, and of his men, were acknowledged by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs [Anthony Eden] in the House of Commons and in the words of His Majesty the King, Major Charter and the Officers and men under his command upheld the highest traditions of the Indian Army… Major Charter has been promoted Brevet Lieut.-Colonel for his services in Addis Ababa.' (Cutting included in lot refers)

An article which appeared in the Indian Army Association Newsletter 1991 offers further incite in the events:

'All foreign Legations in Addis Ababa, with the exception of the Americans, were situated in a diplomatic quarter some miles north of the city. The British Legation and connected buildings were in a large wooded and grassed compound of about one square mile and surrounded by a fence of sorts… At that time the situation between Ethiopia and Italy was fast deteriorating.'

As a consequence concerns were raised in Britain about the safeguarding of the British Legation. The British Government agreed with the Government of India that a company of Indian troops would be sent to protect the legation. The company, 'selected was the Sikh Company of the 5th Battalion (40th Pathans) 14th Punjab Regiment… The Company was commanded by Major W.F. Charter, MC and to assist him two officers were detached from other regiments. They were Captain G.A.E. Keene of 1st/16th Punjab Regt. and Lt. C.W. Pearson of the 1st/12th Frontier Force Regt. In addition Captain T.E. Palmer IMS with a Jemadar and 2 nursing orderlies…

On arrival the detachment constructed defence positions around the Legation; surveyed the other foreign legations as none of them had any military guards; checked and contacted people who would come under the wing of the Legation and generally familiarised themselves with the lie of the land.'

The Italians invaded in October 1935, and their advance began in earnest early the following year. Emperor Haile Selassie left Addis Ababa on the 2nd May. He ordered that the contents of his palace and the government stores were to be made available to his people, 'Thousands of looters, well-armed and full of drink, converged on these stores… Within one day the unrest spread to the whole city. Police and soldiers were well to the fore in the looting and many had old scores to settle. Parts of the city were set on fire and gutted. People then started to pour into the British Legation. From May 2nd to May 6th the Indian troops were on the go the whole time with little, if any, sleep or rest. Not only did they help construct a large refugee camp within the Legation grounds but they had to arrange latrines, cooking facilities and water supplies for up to 3,000 people. Meanwhile lorry patrols were sent out to keep close contact with other legations. Some foot patrols rescued stranded British protected subjects. Still other javans went out in lorries to supply arms and ammunition to various Indian and Arab traders who refused to abandon their shops and houses and wished to defend them...

The detachments had to be here, there and everywhere, and among Major Charter's papers are numerous notes calling for help saying that they were being attacked, or expecting to be attacked... All this time the troops ran the gauntlet of indiscriminate sniping and shooting. Finally there was an attack on the Belgian Legation by a large body of the Abyssinian Imperial Guard. A platoon commanded by Lt. C.W. Pearson was rushed to their aid. This resulted in a sharp and furious engagement and the Guard were completely routed by this much smaller unit. Lt. Pearson was awarded the MC for his personal bravery... The British Legation was also attacked four times and the Americans were attacked once.

By May 6th the officers and men were close to exhaustion. On that day over 25,000 Italian troops started to enter the town and they soon put down the rioting and restored a semblance of law and order... During the rest of their stay the detachment kept guard over the British Legation as well as a 'fatherly' eye on British nationals in the town... When the time came to depart the detachment marched to the Railway Station where an Honour Guard of Italian Askaris was drawn up and all the Diplomatic Corps were present. Everyone expressed their appreciation and admiration for the work of the Officers and Sikhs of the company. The Viceroy of Abyssinia - Marshal Graziani - made a most a complimentary farewell speech. After his inspection both sides mutually presented arms and the detachment entrained...

On the diplomatic level the Belgian Govt. was particularly generous in its thanks to the Indian troops. Major Charter received numerous letters of thanks and congratulations from far and wide, both diplomatic and famous. Major W.F. Charter was awarded a Brevet promotion to Lt. Col. for his outstanding leadership. Lt. C.W. Pearson won his MC and various awards were made to the Indian troops...

Here we return to the silver commemorative medal... The British community felt that some special recognition should be shown to the detachment. They had silver medals struck and presented to every member of the guard... It is thought that about 140 medals were presented in all. The medal is listed in British Battles and Medals by Gordon on page 394.'


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