Auction Catalogue

17 September 2004

Starting at 11:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1015

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17 September 2004

Hammer Price:
£340

Four: Private M. G. Gasken, Royal Marine Light Infantry

1914 Star, with clasp (Ch.15702 Pte., R.M. Brigade); British War and Victory Medals (Ch.15702 Pte., R.M.L.I.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S.& G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (Ch.15702 (B.1572) Pte., R.F.R.), mounted as worn, very fine (4) £200-240

Michael George Gasken was born on 7 December 1878 in Christchurch, Cambridgeshire. By occupation a Clerk, he enlisted into the Royal Marines in London on 17 March 1896. He served his recruit training at Walmer and was transferred to the Chatham Division on 21 October 1896. He subsequently served at Chatham and Plymouth and on the ships, Retribution, Flora, Swallow, Diadem, Anson and Acheron. He was discharged at the end of his engagement on 11 December 1908 and enrolled into the Royal Fleet Reserve. He was recalled to the colours on 2 August 1914 for service in the Royal Marine Brigade. He served at Dunkirk from 20 September to 2 October 1914 and at the defence of Antwerp during 3-9 October. Between May 1916 and February 1917 he served on the pre-dreadnaught battleship H.M.S. Swiftsure and in December 1916 served briefly aboard the armed merchant cruiser Arlanza. (On 16 August 1914, before being taken up by the Royal Navy, the Arlanza had a lucky escape when she was captured by the German vessel Kaisar Wilhelm der Grosse in the North Atlantic, but was released). For the remainder of the war he was mainly based at Chatham, being demobilised on 26 March 1919. He was paid a war gratuity of £27 on 19 May 1919 and received his R.F.R. Long Service medal on 2 March 1922. Sold with copied service papers.