Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 ‘Egyptian Expeditionary Force’ M.C. group of four awarded to Captain T. G. Neale, 22nd Battalion, London Regiment, late Royal West Surrey Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, with case of issue; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902, unofficial rivets between second and third clasps (6641 Pte. T. Neale. The Queen’s.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Q.M. & Capt. T. G. Neale.) mounted as worn, edge bruising to QSA, this nearly very fine, the Great War awards good very fine (4) £1,000-£1,400

M.C. London Gazette 11 April 1918.

Thomas George Neale was born in 1883 and attested for the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) at London on 15 January 1901, serving with the Regiment in South Africa during the Boer War in 1902. Advanced Colour Sergeant, he was appointed Quartermaster and Honorary Lieutenant of the 22nd (County Of London) Battalion, London Regiment (The Queen’s) (Territorial Force) on 5 August 1915, and served with them during the Great War as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Egypt and Palestine. He was promoted Captain on 7 August 1918, and for his services during the Great War was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 23 October 1917) and awarded the Military Cross. He relinquished his commission in the Territorial Force on 20 July 1920, and returned to the Regular Army, as Company Sergeant Major on the Permanent Staff of the 4th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. He retired on 19 July 1922, after a further two years’ service, and was granted the rank of Captain.

Sold with the recipient’s Commission Document appointing him Quartermaster in the Territorial Force, dated 5 August 1915; The recipient’s Mentioned in Despatches Certificate; Small Book and Soldier’s Pay Book; Discharge Certificates; Certificates of Character; and Certificates of Education; various Special Orders and letters of reference regarding the recipient and the award of his M.C.; a large photograph of the recipient with his wife and daughter outside Buckingham Palace having been presented with his M.C.; group photograph of the recipient’s Company; a large quantity of approximately 150 small photographs taken during the campaign in Egypt and Palestine, all annotated on the reverse; various individual photographs of the recipient and of fellow officers of the 22nd London Regiment, the majority identified on the reverse; a caricature portrait of the recipient, captioned ‘The “S.M.” on Parade’; a Banner of the 22nd Company, The Queen’s, reputedly used when General Allenby’s Force entered Jerusalem on 11 December 1917, this in distressed condition; the recipient’s various riband bars; and other related ephemera.

For the recipient’s helmet plate and sword, see Lots 845 and 846.