A Great War M.C. group of five awarded to Quartermaster & Lieutenant G. F. Blakesley, Inland Waterways and Docks, Royal Engineers, late Imperial Yeomanry and Royal Fusiliers

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (21769 S.Q.M. Sjt., 80th Coy. Imp. Yeo.) with small M.I.D. oak leaf emblem on ribbon; 1914-15 Star (Q.M. & Lieut., R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medal, M.I.D. oak leaf (Q.M. & Lieut.) very fine and better (5) £900-1200

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918. ‘T/Lt. George Frederick Blakesley, Spec. List.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 22 May 1917 (Haig’s despatch of 9 April 1917) ‘Temp. Qrmr. & Hon. Lt. G. F. Blakesley, 17th Bn. Royal Fusiliers’

George Frederick Blakesley was born in Camberwell, London on 20 August 1877. An Electrician by occupation, he attested for short service in the Imperial Yeomanry at London on 25 January 1901, aged 23 years, 5 months. He served in South Africa with the 80th Company, 21st Battalion Imperial Yeomanry (2nd Battalion Sharpshooters), March 1901-May 1902. Discharged in Aldershot as Squadron Quartermaster Serjeant, having completed his service on 16 August 1902.

With the start of the Great War and with his occupation listed as an ‘Agent’, he attested for service in the Royal Fusiliers at London, on 9 September 1914, aged 37 years, 1 month. His papers list previous service with the 80th Company Imperial Yeomanry and the 4th Volunteer Battalion East Surrey Regiment. He served at Home as a Quartermaster Sergeant with the 17th Service Battalion Royal Fusiliers until February 1915 when he was discharged to a commission. Appointed a Temporary Quartermaster and Hon. Lieutenant with the 17th Battalion Royal Fusiliers on 16 February 1915, he served with the battalion in France-November 1915-May 1917. On sick leave from France, 24 April-8 May 1917. In July 1917 he was appointed Temporary 2nd Lieutenant with the Inland Water & Docks, R.E., being advanced to Temporary Lieutenant in September 1917 and Temporary Captain in January 1918. He was transferred to the Royal Engineers in February 1918. He served as Assistant Adjutant, Traffic Section, I.W. & D. R.E., August-December 1817; Acting Adjutant, Marine Sections, I.W.& D. R.E., December 1817-June 1918 and Adjutant, Marine Companies, I.W. & D. R.E., from June 1918. For his wartime services he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the M.C. - a note from a family member suggests it was for saving horses who were suffering in a gas attack. Latterly serving with the I.W. & D., R.E. at Richborough, Blakesley relinquished his commission while retaining his rank of Captain on 1 March 1919. Immediately after the war he lived at 26 Eatonville Road, Balham/Upper Tooting, London. Appointed to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers in May 1920. In February 1924, when in the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, he was transferred from the General List to the Royal Engineers (Inland Waterways and Docks (Engineering) Branch. His name was removed from the R.A.R.O. on 20 August 1927 as a consequence of his age.

With a quantity of documentation held in a folder, including: original parchment certificate of discharge, 1902; parchment certificate of character on discharge, 1902; photographs of the recipient in the Imperial Yeomanry; booklet - The Battle-Fields of Natal Revisited, compiled by John Singleton, inscribed, ‘To Kate with love from George, 2nd Battn. Sharpshooters 1901-1902’; discharge certificate, 1915; warrant document appointing him a Quartermaster, 16 February 1915; commission document, appointing him a Captain in the R.A.R.O., 1921; officers’ record of service booklet; M.I.D. certificate and envelope; telegram requesting his attendance at Buckingham Palace for his investiture; protection certificate, March 1919; letter re. his removal from the R.A.R.O.; various newspaper cuttings; photographs of the recipient, including one as an officer in the Great War. Also with copied service papers (Boer War); service papers (Great War); gazette extract; and other research.