Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An impressive Great War M.B.E. and long service group of eleven awarded to Major (Q.M.) G. R. Rowe, Royal Army Service Corps

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (12684 Corl. G. R. Rowe, A.S.C.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (12684 S.Q.M. Sjt. G. R. Rowe, A.S.C.); 1914 Star (S-12684 S.S. Mjr. G. R. Rowe, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Q.M. & Capt. G. R. Rowe); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (12684 S.S. Mjr. G. R. Rowe, A.S.C.), mounted as worn, number of the fourth officially corrected, contact marks to the earlier awards, nearly very fine, the remainder very fine or better (11) £600-800

M.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

George Richard Rowe was born in Aldershot in April 1878 and enlisted in the Army Service Corps in June 1896. Advanced to Corporal in September 1899, he witnessed active service out in South Africa up until July 1900 ((Medal & clasp), and, having been advanced to Staff Q.M. Sergeant in May 1905, in Somaliland in 1909-10, when chosen as one of handful of Army Service Corps N.C.Os for Supply and Transport duties (Medal & clasp).

Recommended for his L.S. & G.C. Medal on the eve of the hostilities, Rowe went out to France as a 1st Class Staff Sergeant-Major in G.H.Q., 3rd Echelon, in mid-August 1914, and was commissioned as a Lieutenant (Q.M.) in January 1915. Next ordered to the Middle East - in July of the same year - he was actively employed in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from March 1916 until October 1918, gaining advancement to Captain (Q.M.) in January of the latter year. Twice mentioned in despatches, firstly by General A. J. Murray, C-in-C., Egyptian Expeditionary Force (London Gazette 6 July 1917, refers), and secondly by General Allenby, his successor (London Gazette 22 January 1919, refers), he was also awarded the M.B.E.

Advanced to Major in January 1930, Rowe was placed on retired pay on account of his age in April 1933, but remained on the R.A.S.C. establishment and was awarded the Jubilee 1935 and Coronation 1937 Medals. And he was recalled in the 1939-45 War, serving in the U.K. up until the end of 1942.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s M.B.E. warrant and M.I.D. certificates (2); Buckingham Palace Jubilee 1935 and Coronation Medal 1937 certificates; his Account Book and Pocket Ledger; 1st Class Army Certificate of Education, dated 26 October 1897; and two framed and glazed group photographs of veterans, including Rowe wearing his medals.