Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare North Russia operations M.B.E., Palestine operations M.C. group of eight awarded to Captain and Quarter-Master C. Garside, Royal Army Service Corps

The Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) 1st type, breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; Military Cross, G.V.R.; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, three clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902 (15988 Pte., A.S.C.); 1914-15 Star (S-15988 S.Q.M. Sjt., A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (S-15988 W.O. Cl. I, A.S.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (S/15988 T. 1 Cl. S.S. Mjr., M.C., R.A.S.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (S-15988 S.S. Mjr., M.C., R.A.S.C.) the first with slightly bent arms, otherwise very fine and better (8) £800-1000

M.B.E. London Gazette 3 February 1920: ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Archangel, North Russia.’

M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1916.

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1919: ‘For valuable and distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations at Archangel.’

M.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1919: ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered with the Forces in Northern Russia.’

Cecil Garside, who was born in April 1883, served in the ranks for 14 years and as a Warrant Officer Class 1 for another 11 years. Commissioned as a Lieutenant and Quarter-Master in March 1926, he finally retired as a Captain in May 1936.

During the Great War he served in Egypt between January 1915 and March 1916, and with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in operations against the Turks in Sinai between March and May 1916 (M.C.). Next actively engaged in the operations in North Russia between June 1918 and September 1919, the whole under the command of Major-General W. E. Ironside, his services were thrice recognised, as evidenced by the above listed M.B.E., M.S.M. and ‘mention’.