Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. and post-W.W.2 B.E.M. group of nine awarded to Warrant Officer Class 2 G. W. Boreham, Grenadier Guards, who was R.S.M. of Dulwich College O.T.C.

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (14277 C.S. Mjr., 1/G. Gds.); British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (George W. Boreham, D.C.M.); 1914-15 Star (14277 L. Sjt., G. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (14277 Sjt., G. Gds.); Defence; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., fixed suspension (2 604223 W.O. Cl. II, (D.C.M.) G. Gds.); Cadet Forces Medal, G.VI.R., with Second Award Clasp (R.S.M., D.C.M., B.E.M.); Belgium, Croix de Guerre, ‘A’ cypher reverse, mounted court style for wear, some with contact marks, worn and better (9)
£1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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D.C.M. London Gazettte 1 January 1919; citation 3 September 1919. ‘He joined the battalion during the battle of the Somme, 1916, and was promoted Company Sergeant Major in May, 1917. Since that date he has invariably performed the duties of his warrant rank in an exemplary manner in billets, and has always set a splendid example to his company of courage and fortitude during the battles in 1917 and 1918. Throughout the fighting in the latter part of August, 1918, he acted as Regimental Sergeant-Major in action, and when the enemy delivered a heavy counter-attack against the troops of the neighbouring division and this battalion, he, by skilful disposition of available men, materially assisted our successful reaction. Throughout his work has been of the highest order’.

B.E.M. London Gazette 10 June 1948. As R.S.M. of Dulwich College J.T.C.

Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 15 April 1918.

George William Boreham was a Regular Soldier in the Grenadier Guards; he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war as a Lance-Sergeant. As a C.S.M. in the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards he was awarded both the D.C.M. and Belgian Croix de Guerre. Postwar he continued to serve and was awarded the Army L.S. & G.C. Medal. In 1921 Boreham joined Dulwich College as R.S.M. of the College O.T.C. He was to serve there for nearly thirty years, being compelled to retire in 1950 due to heart probems. For his services as R.S.M. Boreham was awarded the B.E.M. (Civil) in 1948 and the Cadet Forces Medal in 1951.

R.S.M. Boreham, D.C.M., B.E.M., died in August 1953. His obituary in The Alleynian records, ‘... He came in 1921 with a D.C.M. (which just missed being a V.C.), a Belgian Croix de Guerre, and an outstanding record as C.S.M. in the Grenadier Guards, and soon made his mark on and about the gravel.

His demeanour on parade was a pattern, his word of command something to be long remembered. Highlights of his work stand out - long hours spent on the Bisley ranges - the Dulwich Camp of 1939 organized in six weeks - the Corps and its belongings transported to Tonbridge for the evacuation - brought back again in 1940 to be reorganized after the destruction of the Armoury - the local Home Guard for whose early training he was almost entirely responsible ... Successive Inspecting Officers were quick to recognize that Dulwich had a Sergeant-Major in a thousand. ... Boys soon found the understanding kindliness behind a rather fierce exterior. They were proud of their rounds “round the clump”, and many must be grateful for his conversations, reminiscent and advisory, in the armoury after lunch. “The Sergeant-Major says ...”, became a touchstone for most things. And seven commanding officers, who knew him perhaps best of all, found in him not merely a loyal and energetic subordinate, but a sterling friend whose advice could always be relied on, and whom they were proud to know. .... Dulwich has had many benefactors, and George Boreham will always be gratefully remembered among them’.

Sold with copied research and a copied photograph.