British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Reverend G. H. Colbeck, Army Chaplain’s Department

India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89 (Rev., Army Chap.) suspension refitted; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, Belfast, South Africa 1901 (Rev., Chaplain’s Dept.) suspension bar bent; 1914 Star, with clasp (Rev., A.C.D.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Rev.) edge bruising and contact marks, good fine and better (5) £650-750

George Henry Colbeck was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, on 19 July 1860 and was educated at St. Paul’s College, Burgh, 1882, and St. Augustine’s College, Canterbury, 1883. He was ordained a Deacon in 1887 and a Priest in 1888 in Rangoon, Burma. He was Chaplain of the Society of the Propagation of the Gospels Mission at Mandalay and Principal of the Religious School, Burma, 1887-90. He was also Acting Chaplain to the Burma Field Force 1887-90 (Medal with clasps and mentioned in despatches). Returning to England, he was appointed Curate of Goldsborough, Yorkshire, 1890-91; Harewood, 1891-92; and Clayhill, Enfield, 1892-93. He was then appointed Curate-in-Charge of St. Luke, Jersey, 1893-94; St. Matthew, Upper Clapton, 1894-98; and St. Mary, Haggerston, 1898-1900. During the Boer War he was a Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class, 1900-01 (Queen’s medal with four clasps). He was then Chaplain at Woolwich, 1901-03; Warley, 1903-04; Standerton, South Africa, 1904-05; Potchefstroom, 1905-09; Dublin, 1909-12, and Portsmouth, 1912-14. Colbeck then served with the B.E.F. as a Chaplain 2nd Class, entering the France/Flanders theatre of war on 10 November 1914 and latterly serving at Rouen. For his services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 22 June 1915). After the war he was Curate of St. Cross, Winchester, 1921-22; Chaplain to Enham Village Centre, 1922-24; Curate of St. Peter, Eaton Square, Westminster, 1925-27; and Curate of St. George, Hanover Square, 1927-31. He was appointed Vicar of Stanford-on-Avon with Swinford in 1931.

With copied service papers, m.i.c. and other research.