Orders, Decorations and Medals

An intersesting group of six to The Reverend A. R. Fuller, who served as a Chaplain to the Forces at Gallipoli in 1915, subsequently serving as Domestic Chaplain to George V, Edward VIII and George VI
1914-15 Star (Rev., C.T.F.); British War and Victory Medal, with M.I.D. oakleaf (Rev.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; King’s Chaplain Badge, G.VI.R, silver-gilt and enamels, reverse hallmarks for ‘1949’; together with a) corresponding miniatures, including M.V.O. (to which he was entitled) and King’s Chaplain Badge b) the medals of his wife Evelyn Maude Charter, comprising, Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937 and Belgian Reine Elisabeth medal; c) eleven pages of original letter-form extracts from the recipients Gallipoli journal, these of great interest (see extracts below); large portrait photograph of recipient wearing his medals; a biographical pamphlet written by a member of his family, etc., generally good very fine or better (9) £600-800

The Reverend Arthur Rose fuller was born in 1874 in Heacham, Northumberland and educated at Eton and Magdelene College, Oxford. After further study at Wells Theological College in1897, he was ordained and appointed Curate at Holy Trinity, Sloane Street, London. By the outbreak of hostilities in 1914 he was Vicar of Paignton, and as a Territorial Chaplain to the Forces, drafted for service with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.

From the above mentioned journal extracts it appears that he was attached to the Royal North Devon Hussars throughout the Gallipoli operations, following are extracts from this journal: ‘There is no dressing or undressing of course, in fact I haven’t undressed for about 4 days and not likely to for some time. I am hoping some day to meet again all my kit (the altar is the only “impedimenta” Ihave with me), and I shall keep that always by me.’
As news of the evacuation started to circulate, Fuller found time to reflect on the complete failure and cost of the campaign: ‘I spent the whole day with the men and got back to my hole in the sand in time for tea. No definite orders about the event are given, but there is a great spirit of expectancy dominating everything else... Two things convince me its a right move....secondly, to risk-I even say-throw away-the lives of 100s of men through the inevitable fighting, but by exposing them to conditions which will soon be here and which few men’s health would carry them through....to do that would be a crime of a pretty black colour....Yet in spite of these facts its a very bitter pill to swallow, its an acknowledgement of absolute and total failure for us, and much more than a moral victory for the Turks. Since the failure of the 28th August attack, we have made no advance worth speaking of and the Turks have all the commanding positions on the hills. With a large force of fit troops and many more big guns, we might have made a successful attack on the heights, but we have never had either. Consequently this inane sitting down in trenches was started.’
And then, as official orders were received to move to Suvla Bay: ‘It almost made me cry to see the deserted dugouts.... Looking over the area covered by Salt Lake and the ridges up by Chocolate Hill and the plain where our fellows are now, one thought of 100’s of lives laid down, and now we are running away and leaving what they had gained - it’s a big tragedy.’ Fuller boarded a steamer bound for Mudros, afterwards transferring to the S.S. Ulysses and being re-united with his Brigade in Egypt. He was subsequently Mentioned in Despatches for his part in Sir Archibald Murray’s defeat of the Turks at the Battle of Katia-Rumani.
In 1926 he was invited to go as Domestic Chaplain to King George V at Sandringham and West Newton, where he remained in Royal Service until his retirement in 1943. Often invited to dinner at Sandringham when the Royals were in residence, Fuller had the sadder duty of taking a private service on the Estate following the death of King George V. Moreover, the very evening of the King’s death he was instructed by an Equerry of King Edward VIII to turn his church clock back - King Edward VII had always kept it half an hour fast to ensure the punctuality of shooting parties., a habit maintained by his son. Given the late hour, Fuller said he doubted he could raise the local clocksmith, a suggestion that fell on deaf ears. Such was the new King’s annoyance at habits of the past. Fuller stayed on at Sandringham until 1943, retiring with an M.V.O. He died in Hindhead, Surrey in 1959.