Indian Volunteer Forces Officers’ Decoration, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘Maj. E. V. Gabriel, 2/17th B.B. & C.I. Rly. Bn. I.D.F.’, lacks top bar, good very fine £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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Edmund Vivian Gabriel had a long and distinguished career as an Indian Civil Servant, Volunteer, and Courtier. He was born on 28 March 1875, the son of Edmund Gabriel of Richmond Walk, Devonport. Educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he gained a B.A. in 1896 and M.A. in 1921. He entered the Indian Civil Service in 1897 and served as Assistant Magistrate and Collector in Bengal, Rajputana and in Central India, 1898-1902. He was then Assistant to the Agent to the Governor-General in Central India, 1901-03, and was Political A.D.C. to the Secretary of State, India Office, for the Coronation, 1902. He was Attache for the Coronation Durbar 1903; then Assistant and Under-Secretary, Foreign Department, 1903-07. He was then on Special Service as Political Officer with the Prime Minister of Nepal in 1908, Resident of the Western Rajputana States, 1908, and Chief Secretary, N.W. Frontier Province Administration, 1909. In 1911 he was the Secretary of the Coronation Durbar. In 1912 he served on a Special Mission to Tripoli, Libya. During 1913-14 he was on Special Service with the Bikaner State Service and the Governor-General of Rajputana. For his services he was appointed a C.V.O. (London Gazette 15 May 1906) - on the occasion of the visit to India of the Prince and Princess of Wales; a Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John (London Gazette 10 March 1911) and C.S.I. (London Gazette 12 December 1911

During the course of the Great War he was attached to the General Staff, War Office, and to the Italian Army, and was also in Palestine. He was with a British Military Mission with the Italian Field Army, 1915-17, and Liaison Officer, British Aegean Squadron, 1917-18. During 1918-20 he was Financial Adviser for Occupied Enemy Territory.

A long standing member of the Volunteers in India. He was appointed a Captain in the Simla Volunteer Rifles on 1 April 1906. He was transferred to the Supernumerary List on 1 June 1908. On 13 January 1910 he was appointed a Captain in the 2nd Battalion Bombay Baroda and Central India Railway Volunteer Rifles, and was transferred to the Supernumerary List as a Major on 1 March 1911. During the War he was appointed a Temporary Major in the Army on 29 March 1915, and later a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel. He was appointed a G.S.O. 2 on 20 September 1917

For his wartime services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 7 October 1918 (Mediterranean), 5 June 1919 (Egypt)), was appointed a C.M.G. (London Gazette 4 September 1918); and a C.B.E. (Military) (London Gazette 3 June 1919) - for valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Egypt. From Italy he was awarded the Order of the Crown, Officer (London Gazette 15 March 1918) and Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, Officer (London Gazette 1 June 1920). He was awarded the Indian Volunteer Forces Officers’ Decoration (Gazette of India 10 March 1923

After the war he maintained his service with the Volunteers/Territorials. On 7 September 1921 he was appointed a Lieutenant-Colonel, General List, R.E. (T.F. Reserve). On 1 January 1926 he was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 26th A.A. Battalion (London Electrical Engineers) R.E. (T.A.), remaining as such for 20 years. He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration (Territorial) (London Gazette 13 February 1948.

In 1925 Gabriel was appointed to King George V’s Household as a Gentleman Usher in Ordinary, and continued as such through the reign of King Edward VIII and into that of King George VI. Colonel Gabriel was appointed a Knight of Justice in the Order of St. John (London Gazette 1 January 1929) and was Knighted (London Gazette 11 May 1937). He was a Member of the British Air Commission to the U.S.A., 1940-46

Sir Edmund Vivian Gabriel, Kt., C.S.I., C.M.G., C.V.O., C.B.E., V.D., T.D., D.C.L., B.A., M.A., F.S.A., F.C.S., died on 14 February 1950. Sold with copied research.