Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Three: Corporal A. J. Else, Berkshire Yeomanry
1914-15 Star (1484. Cpl. A. J. Else. Berks. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (1484 Cpl. A. J. Else. Berks. Yeo.) in flattened named card boxes of issue, with named Record Office enclosures in outer OHMS transmission envelopes addressed to ‘Mrs. Mabel P. Else, 9 Martin Road, Slough, Bucks’, extremely fine

Four: Lieutenant D. J. Else, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Commanding Officer of Motor Mine Sweeper 266
1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45, with Admiralty enclosure, in named card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mr. D. J. Else, 12 Everald Avenue, Slough, Bucks’; Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (Lieut. D. J. Else. R.N.V.R.) in named card box of issue, and outer OHMS transmission envelope similarly addressed, extremely fine (7) £240-£280

Arthur J. Else attested for the Berkshire Yeomanry and served with them during the Great War in the Egyptian theatre of War from 21 April 1915. His medals were sent to his widow, Mabel Pinkard Else.

Sold together with two small silver medals, the first a Great Western Railway (London) Athletic Association Prize Medal, the reverse engraved ‘Wilkinson C.C. A. J. Else 1907’; the second shield shaped, the obverse engraved ‘H. G. C. 1st in Gymnastics 1900’, both in fitted cases.

Donald James Else, the son of the above, was born in Slough, Buckinghamshire, on 20 November 1912, and enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as an Ordinary Signalman on 15 February 1939. Posted to Minesweepers, he operated out of Dover and helped clear the Channel to enable the little ships to rescue the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. He was granted a temporary commission as a Sub Lieutenant on 26 September 1941, and a year later was promoted Lieutenant. He served for the rest of the War as Commanding Officer of Motor Mine Sweeper 266.

On the night of 2-3 September 1944, M.M.S .266 went to the rescue of the stricken H.M.S. Glenavon, and rescued 45 of the crew from the water. Else was released from active service on 21 January 1946, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in May 1947.

Sold together with the recipient’s Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Certificate of Service and Signal History Sheet; various letters; and other ephemera.