Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Lieutenant G. J. West, Royal Scots, one of only 9 British recipients of the Romanian Order of Michael the Brave for services in the Great War

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. J. G. West.); Defence Medal; Romania, Order of Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul), 3rd Class, silver-gilt and enamels, the last with chips to both sides of upper arm, otherwise nearly extremely fine (4) £600-800

Romanian Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd Class London Gazette 20 September 1919.

This scarce order was awarded to only nine British recipients for services during the Great War. The 1st Class was given to Earl Haig, Lord Allenby and Admiral Beatty, while the 3rd Class was given to six officers, Lieutenant West being the only officer of the British Army to receive this class.

John George West was born, according to accompanying family notes, at Loch Awe, Argyllshire, in 1893. His father died when he was 18 months old and the family moved to Edinburgh, where he was educated at Daniel Stewart’s Merchant Company School. He joined the 4th Royal Scots Territorials in 1909 but was discharged on medical grounds. When war broke out he was in civil employ as company clerk to a Major at H.Q. Yeomanry, buying horses for the army. He enlisted at Edinburgh into the 9th Battalion, Royal Scots, quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant and was commissioned into the same battalion. The 9th went to France in early 1915 but he was posted east and, attached to the 7th Battalion, Royal Scots, served in Palestine from 31 July 1917. He ‘took part in the 3rd Battle of Gaza and on to Tel-Aviv. Slightly wounded at Esdied, Gaza, in the advance to the Judean Hills. Turkish machine guns, 100 yards away had the wadi covered, received a bullet hole in his haversack and a flesh wound in his arm... Sent to hospital in Alexandria. Got back after advance to Jerusalem. The decoration could be associated with the crossing of the river Arja, the river was in flood, and the Division crossed on small box-like rafts, pulled by ropes, 2 to 3 hours behind schedule. The Transport Officer said to him “I bet you a fiver you get the M.C.” He was recommended for it, but did not get it.’ He afterwards served in France with the 53rd Division.

Sold with original Romanian award certificate and related War Office correspondence; an invitation to attend a dinner for recipients of the Order at Chateau de Gelesch, dated 8 November 1932; and a rare original copy of a Romanian publication giving a list of the recipients of the Romanian Order of Mihai Viteazul 1916-1920. Together with copied m.i.c., a copied photograph of West in uniform, and other copied research.