Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Gleeson Family Group

Three: Private Patrick Gleeson, Commissariat Staff Corps, late 47th Foot
Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (3265 Patk. Gleeson 47th Regt), contemporary engraved naming; New Zealand 1845-66, reverse undated (67 Patk. Gleeson, C.S. Corps); Turkish Crimea, British issue, unnamed

Pair: Lieutenant-Colonel & Quarter Master A. F. Gleeson, O.B.E., Army Service Corps
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military), 1st type breast badge; South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (C/958 2nd Corpl. A. F. Gleeson. A.S. Corps)

Pair: Sergeant A. J. Gleeson, Royal Army Service Corps
British War Medal (S-24599 Cpl. A. J. Gleeson. A.S.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (S-1213 Sjt. A. J. Gleeson. R.A.S.C.)

Four: Flying Officer A. N. Gleeson, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, in their original addressed card forwarding box, the first group with contact marks, good fine and better, the remainder nearly extremely fine (11) £900-1200

Patrick Gleeson was born at Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and attested for the 47th Regiment in July 1854, aged 17 years. Quickly witnessing active service in the Crimea, where he was present in operations before Sebastopol (Medal & clasp; Turkish Medal), he transferred to the Commissariat Corps in September 1859, in which capacity he was present in subsequent operations in New Zealand, where he was stationed for four years (Medal). Appointed a 2nd Corporal in the Army Service Corps in April 1870, Gleeson was finally discharged in the rank of Staff Sergeant at Fermoy in March 1876.

Andrew Fitzwilliam Gleeson, Patrick’s son, was born in February 1860 and, on joining the Army Service Corps, quickly witnessed active service in the Gaika, Galeka and Zulu campaigns (Medal & clasp). Afterwards joining the Commissary General’s H.Q. as a Clerk, he remained employed in the War Office until taking his retirement as an Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel (Q.M.) in February 1920, aged 60 years, in which period his name became synonymous with matters concerning Army transport. His is O.B.E. was awarded in respect of his services in the Great War.

Andrew John Gleeson, Patrick’s grandson, who was entitled to a single British War Medal 1914-20, was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in AO 368 of 1926.

A. N. Gleeson, Patrick’s great grandson, was from Feltham, Middlesex. His brother, Peter, also served in the R.A.F. and was awarded the D.F.C., but killed in action while serving in No. 83 Squadron in August 1944; sold with a large quantity of photocopied research relevant to the Gleeson family.