Ethel (1879) Gray Sold at Auction Prices

§ Ethel W Gray (1879-1957)

§ Ethel W Gray (1879-1957) Portrait of Field Marshal Frederick Roberts (1832-1914), 1st Earl Roberts signed 'E.W.G' (lower right) oil on canvas laid to board, oval 12.5cm Provenance: From the estate of the late Barry Lock (1934-2021) Exhibited: Bath, The Bath and West and Southern Counties Society, year untraced, no. 540 Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, was one of the most distinguished commanders of the British Empire, renowned for his leadership in combat during the Second Afghan War (1878–80) and the South African War (1899–1902). He was also the last Commander-in-Chief of the British Army (1901–04) before the position was abolished. Roberts made a name for himself during the suppression of the Indian Rebellion (1857–58) for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1858. In 1880, he secured a decisive victory in the Second Afghan War by defeating Ayub Khan’s Afghan Army near Kandahar. For his services, Roberts was appointed both Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) and Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE). In 1885, he succeeded to the post of Commander-in-Chief in India, which he held until 1893. He was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in 1895. During the South African War, he was appointed as the second British Commander-in-Chief from December 1899 to November 1900. Roberts put an end to a series of British defeats and captured the Boer state of Orange Free State Republic, annexing it as the Orange River Colony. He also seized the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria and defeated Boer commandos at Bergendal. On returning to Britain in 1901, Roberts was made a Knight of the Garter, created 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar and 1st Viscount St. Pierre. He was awarded the Order of Merit in 1902.