Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Captain C. J. Griffin, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, killed in action at Delville Wood on 1 September 1916

1914-15 Star (2. Lieut., The Queen’s R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) contained in a contemporary fitted, leather covered display frame; together with a fine head and shoulders oil painting on canvas of recipient in uniform, signed by W. G. Parker, 61cm by 76cm, contained in an elaborate moulded gilt wood frame, 82cm by 98cm, some minor chipping to paint and damage to plasterwork; two original portrait photographs of recipient in uniform; five religious medals and an officers’ shoulder pip, nearly extremely fine (9) £500-600

Captain Charles John Griffin was killed in action in France and Flanders on 1 September 1916, whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. His name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

The following is extracted from Stonyhurst War Record, which includes a fine picture of Griffin in uniform: ‘... Lieutenant Griffin gave up a good professional career when the military authorities issued the call for the first 100,000 men, and joined the 3rd Hussars as a Private. He spent seven months with the Hussars, when he received a commission, and was posted to the Queen’s. After three months training, he went to the front and took part in the Battle of Loos, where his only injury was a severe scratch by barbed wire. Until the time of his death he came through all the heavy fighting in which he took part, including the operations on the Somme, scatheless.

We learn from a brother officer that: “He was killed early in the morning (about two o’clock) of September 2nd, while asleep, by a large shell. He was unconscious for a very short time before passing away, and can have known nothing at all...”

Another wrote: “You could not find a more welcome visitor in all the messes than Griffin. In the trenches he was always cheery and untiring as Lewis-gun officer, and during the ‘show’ on July 1st I afterwards heard he had done excellent work...”

In the battle of Loos, he, with his battalion, helped in the capture of the Hohenzollern Redoubt. When finally they were driven out of it, losing nearly all their officers, he took one wounded subaltern on his back, rather than leave him a prisoner in the hands of the Germans, and carried him some hundreds of yards into safety. He was very keen as a machine gun officer, and gave every satisfaction.’

Note: The oil painting included with the lot is based on the photograph that appears in Stonyhurst War Record.