The Great War O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Major C. G. G. Keane, Royal Army Medical Corps

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919, on 2nd type ribbon; 1914-15 Star (Lieut., R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed, nearly very fine and better (9) £300-350

The medals ex Riddick Collection, D.N.W. 7 March 2007.

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 February 1920.

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1919, 3 February 1920.

Charles George Gordon Keane was born in Jubbalpore, India, on 5 September 1891. After qualifying as a M.R.C.S. England and L.R.C.P. London (St. Mary’s) in 1915, he received a Temporary Commission as a Lieutenant in the R.A.M.C. in February 1915, being promoted to Captain in February 1916. In January 1917 he received a Regular Army Commission to Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) and in August 1918 received a promotion to Captain in the regular forces. He served in France, July-October 1915 and in North Russia, 1918-19. For the latter service he was twice mentioned in despatches and awarded the O.B.E. He was promoted to Major in February 1927. He served in India, 1920-24 and 1926-30, becoming an Otology and Laryngology Specialist in 1926, serving at the British Military Hospital Lucknow, 1926-29 and Connaught Military Hospital, Poona, 1930. Returning to England, he served in the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich, 1931-33, and then in Egypt at the Citadel Military Hospital, Cairo, 1933-39, followed by service at the Military Hospital, Tidworth, 1939. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in July 1940. Keane served in the 4th General Hospital with the B.E.F. in France, 1939-40, followed by service with the 6th General Hospital, 1940 and then as C.O. of the 2nd C.C.S., 1940-42. Then with the M.E.F., 1941-44, he was C.O. of the 32nd General Hospital, 1942-43, holding the rank of Acting, then Temporary Colonel, May 1942-October 1945. After a period as C.O. of Connaught Hospital, March-May 1944, he went to West Africa, 1944-45, serving as C.O. of the 34th General Hospital, July-December 1944 and was A.D.M.S. of the H.Q. Lines of Communication area. 1944-45. Post-war he was C.O. of the Military Hospital, Lincoln, 1945-47 and P.S.M.B. of the Southern Command, 1947 until his retirement with the honorary rank of Colonel in November 1949.

Sold with an O.B.E. bestowal document; M.I.D. certificates (2) and commission documents (2) for the ranks of Lieutenant and Major.