Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Lieutenant-Colonel G. V. Dreyer, Royal Artillery

1914-15 Star (Capt. G. V. Dreyer. R.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major G. V. Dreyer. R.A.), unit additionally later impressed; India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, North West Frontier 1930-31, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Maj. G. V. Dreyer. R.A. 22/ Mtn. Batty.) very fine (4) £500-£700

Major Clive Wilcox Collection, Spink, July 2007.

George Villiers Dreyer was born on 27 February 1883, the son of John Dreyer Esq., a noted astronomer, and the brother of Frederick Charles Dreyer (later Admiral Sir Frederick, G.B.E., K.C.B.) . He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 18 August 1900, and having been promoted Lieutenant on 8 October 1902, transferred to the Indian Army on 1 March 1910. Promoted Captain on 18 August 1913, he served during the Great War in the Asiatic theatre of 23 November 1914, and was present in the operations against the Mohmands and Swatis with 29th Mountain Battery, Indian Army, in 1915. Advanced Major on 30 December 1915, he was appointed Commandant of the Frontier Garrison Artillery, Indian Mountain Battery, in 1917, and saw further service in British, German, and Portuguese East Africa, Nyasaland, and Northern Rhodesia with the 22nd Mountain Battery from 15 June 1917 to 7 February 1918. For his services during the Great War in East Africa he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 7 March 1918).

Following the cessation of hostilities in Africa, Dreyer returned to India and saw further during the Third Afghan War. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding 26th Field Brigade, on 1 January 1929, he subsequently saw further active service during the operations on the North West Frontier with the 23rd Indian Mountain Brigade, 1930-31, ands was again Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 6 May 1932). He is listed in the Quarterly Army List for April 1941 as an Assistant Proof and Experimental Officer at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and he died at Klosters, Switzerland, on 15 June 1965.

Sold with a copy of an account of the action at Nanyati on 5 August 1917 by the recipient, who commanded the 22nd Mountain Battery during the action; copied correspondence regarding this action; and other research, including copied extracts from the war diary and a copy of the History of the 22nd Derajat Mountain Battery.