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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 314

The mounted C.B. group of seven dress miniature attributed to Surgeon General J. A. Clery, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was mentioned once in the Sudan and twice during the Boer War before the award of his C.B.

Order of the Bath, Military Division, gold and enamel, bulbous centres, straight bar suspension, gold buckle on ribbon; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85; Queen's Sudan 1896-98; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Rel. of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek; King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps; Khedive's Star 1884-6; Khedive's Sudan 1896-1908, no clasp, mounted as worn, good very fine (7)

Ex-Colonel D. G. B. Riddick & Upfill-Brown Collections.

C.B. London Gazette 27 September 1901.

M.I.D London Gazette 9 December 1898, 8 February 1901, 10 September 1901.

James Albert Clery was born at Knockling, Limerick, Ireland on 21 December 1846, son of Thomas Clery of Ballynabinch House. Educated at Stoneyhurst he attended Trinity College Dublin where he qualified as a Doctor (M.B.) in 1870.

Commissioned Assistant Surgeon on 1 April 1871 Clery was further advanced Surgeon-Major in 1883 just prior to the Gordon Relief Expedition, 1884-85. During that expedition he commanded the Abu Dam Field Hospital. Returning to that country for the Sudan Campaign of 1896 Clery was 'mentioned' for his role in the campaign (London Gazette 9 December 1898, refers).

Advanced Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel in 1891 he was promoted Surgeon Colonel in 1899, just prior to the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. Clery was appointed Principal Medical Officer on the line of communication in Natal and participated in the Relief of Ladysmith operations. He was twice mentioned in the London Gazette of 8 February 1901, the first time states:

'Colonel J. A. Clery, who has been in charge of the general hospital at Mooi, has displayed great powers of organisation and readiness to overcome difficulties. His hospital is a source of admiration to all who have visited it.'

The second time expands upon this stating:

'Colonel J. A. Clery, M.B., Principal Medical Officer of the Lines of Communication.-Is an Officer of sound judgment, common sense and high administrative power. In his hands the hospital at Mooi river became remarkable as a model of what a hospital should be, and since that he has done most valuable service in supervising the hospitals and medical work along the Lines of Communication in Natal. I trust his services may be rewarded.'

Moving on to a hospital was situated at Chievely Siding, just south of Colenso, he was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath to go with another 'mention' (London Gazette 10 September 1901). Advanced Surgeon-General on 23 May 1902 he served until 1902.

Clery is noted as returning to service in 1915 however he did not qualify for any medals in that time. He died on 10 February 1920 and is commemorated at Greenwich Cemetery; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£280 to £320

Starting price
£220