Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Colour Sergeant G. S. P. Gwynn, Imperial Light Infantry, late Lieutenant, Royal Navy

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (G. S. P. Gwynn, Midn., R.N., H.M.S. “Agincourt”); East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1891-2 (Lieut. G. S. P. Gwynn, R.N., H.M.S. Widgeon); Cape of Good Hope General Service 1880-97, 1 clasp, Bechuanaland (Lce. Cpl. G. Gwynn, Kim. Rifs.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 7 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901 (12 Clr. Serjt. G. Gwynn, Impl. Lt. Infy.); Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed, good very fine (5) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals relating to the Boer War formed by two brothers.

View
Collection

Graham Samuel Philpot Gwynn, was born in Clifton, Bristol in 1866, the son of John C Gwynn, a Solicitor, and his wife Maria. He was one of 12 children and he entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in 1879 becoming Midshipman in 1881 while serving on H.M.S. Agincourt during the Egypt campaign. On H.M.S. Widgeon, he served ashore with the Naval Brigade in the Gambia during the campaign of 1891-2. While Lieutenant on H.M.S. Thunderer in 1895 he was dismissed the ship for 'absence without leave' by order of the Naval Courts Martial and in 1896 after a further offence he was 'dismissed the Service' whilst a Lieutenant on H.M.S. Victor Emmanuel whilst serving on the China Station for being found ‘guilty to an act of prejudice of good order and Naval discipline in drinking intoxicating liquors to such an excess as to produce illness'.

It can be assumed that Gwynn chose service in South Africa to the disgrace of returning home. His attestation papers for the Imperial Light Infantry dated 8 November 1899, state his age to be 33 years 10 months, it states further that he had previously served in the Royal Navy and had 'resigned'. He died in 1913 at Elham in Kent aged 47.

With copied service papers and other research.