Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Great War M.B.E. group of four awarded to Captain S. Clare, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, late Grenadier Guards

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1918, in Royal Mint case of issue; Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (6535. Pte. S. Clare. 1/Gren: Gds.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6535 L.Serjt: S. Clare. Gren: Gds: M.I.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (Pte. S. Clare. Gren. Gds.) edge bruising and heavy contact marks, therefore good fine, the M.B.E. good very fine £400-500

M.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

Samuel Clare was born in Manchester on 15 December 1877 and attested for the Grenadier Guards there on 19 May 1897, having previously served in the 6th Dragoon Guards. He served with the 1st Battalion in Egypt and the Sudan from 19 July to 7 October 1898, and was promoted Corporal and Lance Sergeant on 11 June 1901. He subsequently served in South Africa during the Boer War from 8 November 1901 to 5 October 1902, with the Mounted Infantry, before transferring to the Egyptian Army on 23 June 1904, being promoted to Sergeant on 18 August oft that year. He rejoined the Grenadier Guards on 24 June 1907, and passed his examinations in Musketry and the Maxim Gun at Hythe between August and September 1907. He was discharged on 12 October 1909 after 12 years and 147 days’ service.

Following the outbreak of the Great War, Clare re-enlisted in the Liverpool Regiment on 11 September 1914, and was promoted Company Sergeant Major in the 1st City Battalion the same day. Promoted Warrant Officer Class II in the 17th Battalion on 29 January 1915, he transferred to the 28th Garrison Battalion, Manchester Regiment as Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant on 11 September 1915. He was Commissioned Lieutenant and Quartermaster on 29 September of that year, backdated to 5 August 1915, and subsequently transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion, Cameron Highlanders. On the disbandment of the 1st Garrison Battalion, Cameron Highlander,s he applied for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps as Equipment Officer on 2 July 1917, citing his experience as ‘Adjutant of various Garrison Battalions since December 1915; Quartermaster of 1st Garrison Battalion Manchester Regiment; and several years experience in clerical branch of engineering in civilian life’. His application was successful and he was appointed Acting Adjutant two days later, formally transferring to the Royal Flying Corps on 11 August 1917. Posted to No. 60 Squadron on 2 November of that year, he next became attached to Headquarters of No. 13 Wing on 23 July 1918, before returning to No. 60 Squadron on 29 July 1918. Following the cessation of hostilities he was placed on the Unemployed List on 7 April 1919. For his services during the Great War he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 11 July 1919) and was awarded the M.B.E.

Sold together with a Royal Flying Corps cloth badge; and various copied research.