Orders, Decorations and Medals

Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (ME-264 Far. Sjt. G. Gilbert, 2/S.A. Eng. Troop) good very fine £160-200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Extensive Collection of Medals for Long and Meritorious Service.

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M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919. ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations with the Forces in East Africa’.

George Gilbert was born in England about 1884. He was 33 years of age, single and a carpenter by trade when he attested at Roberts Heights to the South African Expeditionary Forces on 1st May 1917, giving his next-of-kin as his mother Rebecca Gilbert of Newcastle, Australia. Taken on the strength from 28th April 1917, he was posted as a Sapper Carpenter of the Mounted Engineers. He was promoted Acting Sergeant from 2nd November 1917 and to Farrier Sergeant, 2nd South African Engineering Troop, from 9th April 1918. He embarked aboard H.M.T. Royal George for East Africa on 22nd July 1917. During his service he was treated for malaria on several occasions between 5th December 1917 and 12th December 1918: at Dar-es-Salaam, Morogosa, Lindi, St Amelia, and Kilossa. He disembarked from H.M.T. Ingoma on return, at Durban on 28th December 1918. He was demobilised on 13th January 1919 and discharged at Durban on 9th February 1919, giving his address as Lake Hotel, Boksburg. His trio was despatched apparently to his mother in Newcastle, Australia, on 12th June 1923 (medal trio not in lot). Sold with copied service papers.