A Great War O.B.E. group of four awarded to Major C. P. Parker, Royal Marines, late 5th Dragoon Guards

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut. C. P. Parker. 5/Drgn. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major. C. P. Parker) mounted court-style, edge bruise to QSA, good very fine (4) £400-500

O.B.E. London Gazette 7 June 1918.

Charles Percival Parker was born in 1874 and educated at Uppingham School. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 4th (Militia) Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment on 30 December 1899, and transferred to the 5th Dragoon Guards on 7 May 1900. He served with the Regiment in the Boer War, arriving in South Africa soon after the siege of Ladysmith, and was promoted Lieutenant on 3 October 1900. Falling ill, he was invalided home, and resigned his commission on 27 July 1901.

Commissioned into the Reserve of Cavalry following the outbreak of the Great War, Parker received a commission as Temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Marines on 1 March 1915, and served on the Western Front from 1 March to 1 August 1915, and again from 2 October 1915 until the end of the War. He was promoted Temporary Captain and employed on the Staff as an Assistant Landing Officer from 5 March 1916, and was appointed Assistant Quartermaster-General on 3 October 1918. For his services during the Great War he was three times Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 4 January 1917, 11 December 1917, and 20 May 1918), and was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He relinquished his commission with the rank of Major on 1 May 1919.

Note: Although Parker served in France during 1915, it does not appear that he received the 1914-15 Star. His Medal Index Card notes that the British War and Victory Medals were issued on 22 December 1925, and that his 1914-15 Star was to be issued by the Adjutant-General of the Navy, although there is no indication that the Star was issued.

Only 8 ‘Natal’ clasps awarded to Officers of the 5th Dragoon Guards.