Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.C. group of six awarded to Captain F. A. Gerber, South African Horse, late Somaliland Burgher Corps

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; Anglo-Boer War Medal 1899-1902, naming erased; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (73 Tpr., Som. Bur. C.); 1914-15 Star (Lt., Brands F.S. Rfls.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.) mounted for display, fine and better (6) £1400-1800

M.C. London Gazette 13 February 1917. ‘Lt (Temp Captain) Frank Anthony Gerber, S.A. Horse.’

For conspicuous gallantry in action. He has, on several occasions, displayed great courage and skill in patrol work, and has captured several prisoners and mules.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 30 June 1916; 8 February 1917.

F. A. Gerber served in the Second Boer War as a Burgher under the command of Commandant J. Jordaan (Anglo-Boer War Medal confirmed). He later served as a Trooper in the Somaliland Burgher Corps. The 100-strong unit, commanded by Captain W. Bonham, D.S.O., was composed of Afrikaans and English speaking South Africans and others. It was the first South African unit to fight on ‘foreign’ soil.

In the Great War he served as a Lieutenant in Brands Free State Rifles and later as a Lieutenant/Captain in the South African Horse. For his wartime services he was twice mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Cross.