A Second War C.B.E., scarce Great War ‘Gallipoli’ D.S.O. group of ten awarded to Colonel B. S. Finn, New Zealand Medical Corps and New Zealand Dental Corps, who previously served as a Trooper with the Victorian Mounted Rifles in South Africa during the Boer War

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd type, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with short section of neck riband for display purposes; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1444 Tpr. B. S. Finn. Vict. M.R.) re-engraved naming; 1914-15 Star (12/591 Mjr. B. S. Finn. N.Z.E.F.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (12/591 Major B. S. Finn. N.Z.E.F.); War Medal 1939-45; New Zealand War Service Medal; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, New Zealand, the reverse engraved ‘T. Col. B. S. Finn. N.Z.D.C.’, with integral top riband bar, generally good very fine (10) £3,000-£4,000

Captain G. T. Stagg Collection 1971; Gibson Collection, Webb’s (Auckland NZ), March 2014

Approximately 21 Distinguished Service Orders awarded to New Zealand officers for Gallipoli.

C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1945.

D.S.O. London Gazette 29 October 1915:
‘For conspicuous devotion to duty in the Gallipoli peninsula during operations from 6th to 9th August, 1915, when he worked day and night with unceasing zeal and without rest evacuating the wounded. His work was carried out under continuous fire, on one occasion the dressing station being heavily shelled for an hour, and many assistants and wounded being hit. Owing to Captain Finn’s efforts the wounded lying in the more exposed positions were got into a place of greater safety.

Bertram Sibbald Finn was born in Invercargill, New Zealand, on 18 October 1880 and was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School. He served as a trooper with 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles in South Africa during the Boer War before qualifying as a Dental Surgeon, and following the outbreak of the Great War attested for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Auckland on 22 August 1914. He was commissioned Captain, New Zealand Medical Corps, on 20 November 1914, and served with them during the Great War in Gallipoli, being both warded the Distinguished Service Order and Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 5 November 1915.

Finn was Appointed Administrative Dental Officer to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on 31 January 1916, and following establishment of the New Zealand Dental Corps in February 1916 he was promoted to Major. He returned to New Zealand in 1918 and in 1934 was appointed Director of Dental Services, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He saw further service during the Second World War as Director of Dental Services (Navy, Army and Air Force), and was promoted temporary Colonel in 1940. He played a significant role in the history of the New Zealand Dental Corps during the War, and in 1946 was appointed an Honorary Dental Surgeon to H.M. the King. He was awarded his Efficiency Decoration in September 1946, and died in Auckland on 23 August 1952.

Sold with a copy of The Official History of the New Zealand Dental Services, by T. V. Anson, the recipient’s portrait being the frontispiece, and in which work he is frequently mentioned, with the ex libris stamp of ‘G. T. Stagg, R.N.Z.A.’