Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An M.V.O. group of four awarded to Temporary Lieutenant Octavius Gruzelier, Labour Corps

The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 5th Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially numbered, ‘493’, slight enamel damage; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (2 Lieut.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (295 Sjt., 15/Lond. Regt.) mounted for wear, nearly extremely fine except where stated (4)
£300-360

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

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M.V.O. 5th Class London Gazette 25 March 1921

M.I.D. London Gazette 10 July 1919

Octavius Gruzelier was born in Plymouth on 28 May 1881. Educated at Devonport High School, he was then employed at the India Office as a Clerk. In November 1910 he was appointed shorthand writer to the Secretary of State. Gruzelier joined the Volunteer Force, serving in the Civil Service Rifles, which became the 15th (County of London) Battalion London Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own Civil Service Rifles). As a Serjeant he was awarded the T.F.E.M., this notified in A.O. 101 of April 1914. Serving in the Great War, Gruzelier was granted a commission in July 1917 as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the Labour Corps. He landed in France in October 1917 and he was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant in January 1919. For his wartime services he was mentioned in Haig’s despatches of 16 March 1919. On his release from military duties, Gruzelier was appointed shorthand writer in connection with the visit of the Prince of Wales to India in April 1920. He was the Chief Staff Clerk on the tour of H.R.H. the Dule of Connaught in India, December 1920-March 1921. For his services he was appointed a M.V.O. 5th Class. Gruzelier was also the Head Staff Clerk on the Indian Tour of the Prince of Wales, October 1921-March 1922. He was appointed Assistant to the Political A.D.C. to the Secretary of State in April 1922, a post he held until his death in 1935 when he committed suicide.

Sold with copied birth and death certificates and other research.