Orders, Decorations and Medals Including five Special Collections

Victory Medals 1914-19 (5), comprising (2. Lieut. V. Herbert-Smith); (2. Lieut. T. McGee); (Lieut. A. P. Maude); (2. Lieut. H. A. Sykes); (2. Lieut. R. Syme) generally good very fine or better (5) £60-80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of of Great War Medals to the Rifle Brigade.

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Vere Herbert-Smith was educated at Winchester (where he was the Head of his House, Captain of Soccer and of sixes and won the school steeplechase) and New College, Oxford. He obtained First Class Honours in jurisprudence and was a member of the O.T.C. He was commissioned in the Rifle Brigade, Special Reserve, 15 August 1914 and joined the 3rd Battalion in France on 16 February 1915 and was Killed in Action on 21 March near Neuve Chapelle. He is buried in Chapelle-d’Armentieres Old Military Cemetery. Sold with copy photograph.

Thomas McGee served as a Sergeant in the Gordon Highlanders, landing in France 10 May 1915. Commissioned in the Rifle Brigade and served with the 9th (Service) Battalion then joined the 2nd Battalion, 18 April 1918. On 26 April he was ordered to take two platoons on a reconnoitring patrol to the south-east outskirts of Villers-Bretonneux. “The party met with considerable resistance outside the village but inflicted casualties on the enemy and put his machine-gun teams out of action.” 2nd Lieutenant McGee was Killed in Action during this exploit. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

Aylmer Arthur Joseph Probyn Maude was educated at Downside and New College, Oxford. Joined the H.A.C. in 1914 and commissioned in the Rifle Brigade 9 November, Lieutenant 29 January 1915. Joined the 7th (Service) Bn. in France 24 September 1915-January 1916 and later attached R.A.O.C. August 1916-May 1919 when demobilised and passed the Foreign Office examination.

H. A. Sykes was commissioned in the Rifle Brigade 29 August 1917 and joined the 16th (Service) Battalion in France on 29 October 1917. He was reported Missing on 22 March 1918 and was a prisoner in German hands until repatriated in December. Afterwards served with the 25th KRRC as a Lieutenant.

Robert Syme served in the ranks of the R.A.M.C. and was commissioned in the Rifle Brigade 19 November 1917. He joined the 11th (Service) Bn. in France on 11 January 1918, in “D” Company, and was severely wounded in both legs and shoulder on 26 March 1918 at Nesle. His left leg was amputated above the knee at No. 8 General Hospital, Rouen, on 29 March.