Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Colour-Sergeant W. T. Gearing, Cinque Ports Volunteer Rifle Corps

Coronation 1911 (Col. Sergt. Wm. T. Gearing. V.R. (Lewes)); Volunteer Force Long Service, V.R. (38 Col; Sergt. Wm. T. Gearing 1st Cinque Ports V.R.C. 1895) very fine (2) £100-120

Sold with copied research including a lengthy obituary notice with portrait of Gearing in the uniform of the ‘Old Fourth Sussex’. The following is an extract from his obituary of July 1913:

‘His great recreation was volunteering. He joined the old Fourth Sussex as soon as he was old enough, and for thirty-five years there was no keener volunteer in the whole of Sussex. In his early days he was in the same company as the present Town Clerk of Lewes, and many other well-known townsmen, most of whom have, however, gone over to the great majority. When the old Fourth Sussex was merged in the Cinque Ports he continued his association with it, and the doings of “D” Company, which was known as the best marching Company of the battalion, were always a source of pride to him. He rose to the rank of colour-sergeant, retiring on attaining the age limit in 1898. He was awarded during the life time of Queen Victoria the medal for long service, which was one of the first issues of this medal. He was also presented with the Coronation Medal of George V, being one of the three selected representatives of the National Reserve Forces in Sussex to attend the Coronation in London.’