A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of six awarded to Captain Goodman Ambler, Singapore Volunteer Corps and Malay States Volunteer Regiment, late Royal Sussex Regiment, three times wounded in action

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘Goodman Ambler, June 30th 1916’; 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., R. Suss. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘Lieut. G. Ambler, M.C., S.V.C.’, with top bar; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service, G.V.R. (Second Lieut., M.C., M.S.V.R.) mounted court style for wear, nearly very fine and better (6) £1000-1200

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

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M.C. London Gazette 19 August 1916. ‘For conspicuous gallantry during operations. When his company commander became a casualty he took command and led the company into the enemy’s lines and began consolidating under heavy fire. He was wounded but stuck to his command till the company was withdrawn

Goodman Ambler was born in Warwick on 4 June 1885. He was educated at Steyning Grammar School, at Brighton Grammar School, and at St. Mark’s College, Chelsea. Employed in the field of education, in 1910 he was appointed an Assistant Master at the Victoria Institution at Kuala Lumpur, and served in the Malay States Volunteer Regiment. Latterly he was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. With the onset of war he enlisted as a Private in the Royal Sussex Regiment on 2 December 1914. He was granted a commission as a Temporary Second Lieutenant in the Infantry on 25 February 1915. On 5 October 1915 he was attached to the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, and served with the 29th Division at Gallipoli. Ambler rejoined the Royal Sussex Regiment in the B.E.F. on 3 May 1916, and was wounded on 1 July 1916. He was promoted a Temporary Lieutenant on 2 September 1916 and advanced to Acting Captain, December 1916-May 1917. He was appointed an Acting Major on 30 July 1917 and was wounded a second time on 10 August 1917. He was promoted to Temporary Captain on 4 October 1917, then serving with the 12th (Service) Battalion (2nd South Down) Royal Sussex Regiment. On 3 November 1917 he was wounded for the third time. For his wartime bravery he was awarded the Military Cross. Ambler was an Acting Lieutenant-Colonel and Commandant of a Camp at Tournai, 1 December 1918 and was appointed a Staff Officer in the 3rd Army Corps in May 1919. Temporary Captain G. Ambler, M.C. relinquished his commission, whilst retaining his rank, on 1 January 1920. After the war, Ambler returned to the Far East and rejoined the Staff of the Victoria Institution and the M.S.V.R. On 1 March 1924 he was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the M.S.V.R. and seconded to the Selangor Cadets with the rank of Captain. He was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, published in the Federated Malay States Government Gazette of 19 March 1926. Ambler joined the Government Service on 1 September 1925 on the taking over of the Victoria Institution. In April 1926 he was appointed Headmaster of Outram School, Singapore and on 1 May he was gazetted a Lieutenant in the Singapore Volunteer Corps. On 22 August 1930 he was promoted to Captain and transferred to the Straits Settlements Volunteer Reserve. He was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, published in the Straits Settlements Government Gazette of 29 August 1930. Sold with copied research.