Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.C. group of six awarded to Chaplain to the Forces the Reverend Canon S. Groves, Army Chaplains’ Department, later Chaplains Branch, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Rev. S. Groves. A.C.D.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Rev. S. Groves.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, the Great War awards mounted as worn, the Second War awards loose, good very fine (6) £1000-1400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to Chaplains formed by Philip Mussell.

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M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

Sidney Groves was born in Northampton on 11 January 1887 and was educated at Lincoln College, Oxford, and Wells Theological College. He was ordained Deacon in 1911 and Priest in 1912, serving as Curate of Portsea from 1911-12, and of St. Mary’s, Kensington, from 1913-14. He was commissioned temporary Chaplain to the Forces on 10 December 1914, and served during the Great War with the Army Chaplains’ Department on the Western Front from 9 May 1915, being Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 25 May 1918) in addition to being awarded the Military Cross.

Appointed Domestic Chaplain to the Bishop of Southwark in 1919, he subsequently served as Vicar of St. Saviour’s, Forest Hill, from 1922-34, and as Vicar of St. Margaret’s, Streatham, from 1934-47. He was appointed Chaplain (with the rank of Squadron Leader) in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 21 October 1940, and was appointed an Honorary canon of Southwark Cathedral in 1949. His last appointment was as Rural Dean of Battersea from 1952-53.

Sold together with a photographic image of the recipient.