Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War O.B.E., M.C. group of nine awarded to Major Charles Gabriel Joseph Lynam, Royal Engineers

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; 1914-15 Star (Lieut., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major); Defence; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, mounted court style for display; Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (unsuccessful) (2nd Lieut. C. G. J. Lynam, R.E., 30th Apl. 1915), this with silver buckle on ribbon, good very fine (9) £1200-1600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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Ref. Spink Exhibition 1985, No. 20.

O.B.E. London Gazette 29 March 1922. ‘... for valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in Iran’.

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

M.I.D London Gazette 23 December 1918. (Haig’s despatch, 8 November 1918); mentioned in Haldane’s despatch for Mesopotamia, 7 February 1921.

Legion of Honour, Chevalier, London Gazette 22 November 1918.

‘The Royal Engineers were practising trench warfare at Colchester, and on the afternoon of 29th April, 1915, a mine was exploded. The earth was broken up, but no crater was formed, and on the morning of the 30th April a party of men were sent to clear away the loose earth so that the mine chamber could be inspected, but with orders not to enter the gallery. Contrary to instructions Sapper Williams entered the gallery and did not return, and Sappers Scott, Simpson, Bullock, and Lichfield went in to try to get him out, but they failed in their object and were all more or less affected. Cpl. Blythe then went in and got these four men out unaided; 2nd Lieut. E.J. Darton then went in to try and reach Williams, but did not return. Cpl. Blythe made a heroic effort to reach Lieut. Darton, but failed and had to be removed to hospital. Maj. de Lotbiniere, 2nd Lieut. Lynam, and several other men made gallant efforts to reach Lieut. Darton and Williams, and eventually they were got out, but both had succumbed to the carbon monoxide gas present in the gallery after the mine was exploded’ (Ref. R.H.S. Case No. 41,502; Acts of Gallantry, Vol. 2).

Silver Medals were awarded to Major H. G. Joly de Lotbinier; 2nd Lieutenant C. G. J. Lynam; Sergeant Gavin Senior, and Corporals Walter Blythe and John Waugh, all Royal Engineers; bronze medals were awarded to eight others and an ‘In Memoriam’ Testimonial was awarded to the relatives of 2nd Lieut. E.J. Darton.

Sold with original O.B.E. award document; M.I.D. award documents (2); Legion of Honour award document, and ‘Home Guard’ Certificate of Service, 12 May 1940-17 September 1943.