Miniature Group of Seven Includes:
(i) Distinguished Service Order, George V: multi-piece construction, in silver gilt with red, white and green enamels, measuring 20 mm (w) x 22.8 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring.
(ii) India Medal 1895-1902:
2 Clasps - PUNJAB FRONTIER 1897-8, TIRAH 1897-8, in silver, measuring 17.7 mm in diameter.
(iii) 1914-15 Star: in bronze gilt, measuring 20.2 mm (w) x 23.5 mm (h).
(iv) British War Medal: in silver, measuring 17.2 mm in diameter.
(v) Victory Medal with Oak Leaves, in bronze gilt, measuring 17.8 mm in diameter.
(vi) Egypt, Kingdom: Order of the Nile, IV Class Officer (Nishan al-Nil): four-piece construction, in silver gilt with white and blue enamels, measuring 21.3 mm (w) x 32 mm (h) inclusive of its crown suspension, with large rosette.
(vii) France, Third Republic: Order of the Legion of Honour (Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur): four-piece construction, in silver with red, white, blue and green enamels, measuring 22.8 mm (w) x 32.8 mm (h) inclusive of its wreath and laterally-pierced ball suspension. Mounted to a suspension bar with swing bar pinback, original ribbons, intact enamels, extremely fine.
Accompanied by a biography and photograph of Methven.
Footnote: Alfred Methven Collard was born in 1877 in Marylebone, Middlesex, England. He was commissioned in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in 1896, then posted to the 1st Battalion and stationed at Lucknow. In 1897, the Battalion moved to Rawal Pindi and took part in the punitive expedition in the Tirah. He served with the Tirah Expeditionary Force which included the Rawal India Brigade commanded by Brigadier General G.R. McGregor. The following three years, 1898-1900, he would see service in Peshawar, Rawal Pindi, Lucknow, Calcutta and Dum Dum, for which he received the India Medal 1895-1902 with the Tirah 1897-8 and Punjab Frontier 1897-8 clasps.
Although the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was in South Africa, Lieutenant Collard was not involved in the Boer War, as the 1st Battalion was in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) administering Prison of War Camps for the Boers Captain Collard was seconded to the Egyptian Army in 1908. In 1911, he moved to the Staff and it is assumed that Major Collard of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was awarded the Order of the Nile, IV Class for three years' previous service. The announcement of his award appeared in the London Gazette 29679 of Tuesday, July 25, 1916, page 7334, in the position of Officer Commanding the 14th Sudanese, Egyptian Army. During the First World War, he went from the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force to Gallipoli in 1915 as Deputy Quartermaster General.
Although he was at Gallipoli, his regiment wasn't, with Collard likely seconded to another regiment. By now a Major, he probably remained with the 11th Division throughout the campaign, and for a further month in Egypt after the evacuation. In 1916, Major Collard was posted as Assistant Quartermaster General to the Anzac Corps in France, where he served on the Staff until the Armistice. He was Mentioned in Despatches in July and September 1916, June 1917, December 1918 and January 1920. After the war, he remained in France and became Assistant Adjutant General at GHQ British Troops with the rank of Brevet Colonel. In 1920, he was Commandant at Calais Base. For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914-16 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Major (Temporary/Lieutenant-Colonel) Alfred Methven Collard, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the announcement appearing in the Supplement to the London Gazette 30450 of Friday, December 28, 1917, on Tuesday, January 1, 1918, page 19. He married Jeannie Hilda Macdonald (Myburgh) Collard in 1928 in St George Hanover Square in London and died on May 17, 1945 at about age 68, in Newbury, Berkshire, England.