Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War C.B., C.M.G. group of nine awarded to Brigadier-General J. G. Geddes, Royal Field Artillery, who was wounded in September 1914, mentioned on four occasions and died in August 1919 whilst officiating as Officer Commanding Shoreham District

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s, breast badge converted for neck wear, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with short neck cravat; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with full neck cravat, some small chips to both centres; India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Tirah 1897-98 (Captn. J. G. Geddes. R.A.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (Lt: Col: J. G. Gedder. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Brig. Gen. J. G. Geddes.); Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, gold and enamels, lacking rosette; Romania, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, 3rd Class neck badge with swords, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with full neck cravat, minor chip to obverse centre, the campaign medals mounted court-style, together with Memorial Plaque (John Gordon Geddes), unless otherwise described, nearly extremely fine (10) £1,000-£1,400

C.B. London Gazette 18 February 1915.

C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

Legion of Honour, Officer London Gazette 24 October 1919.

Crown of Romania, Commander London Gazette 20 September 1919.

John Gordon Geddes was born on the 4th November 1863, the son of Colonel John Gordon Geddes late of the 44th and 76th Regts. and Madeline Mary Geddes. He was educated at Cheltenham College between 1877 and 1881 from where he went on to the Royal Military College Sandhurst, being commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery on the 26th June 1883. Promoted Captain in 1892 and Major in 1900 he saw service on the North West Frontier of India between 1897 and 1898 with the Tirah Expeditionary Force where he was Orderly Officer to the Artillery detachments and was awarded the medal with clasp.
He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1909 and held the post of Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General of the 3rd Division, Southem Command. On the outbreak of the war he was placed in command of the 25th Brigade Royal Field Artillery and went to France with the expeditionary force in August 1914. He was mentioned in Lord French's despatches of the 20th November 1914 for gallant and distinguished service at Armentières and also on the 14th January 1915, 15th June 1915 and 30th November 1915. He was wounded in action on the 10th September 1914, but continued in command of the 25th Artillery Bde. which was in continuous action from that date for the next seven days during the battle of the Aisne and for which Colonel Geddes received the personal thanks of the General Officer Commanding 18th Infantry Brigade, General Bulfin. It was for his part in this battle that Colonel Geddes was subsequently appointed to the Order of The Bath on the 18th February 1915. He was promoted Brigadier General of 5th Division in the same month and remained in this rank for the duration of the war, being appointed a Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in January 1918 and received the Order of the Star of Romania and the French Legion of Honneur. Brigadier General Geddes died on the 26th August 1919 whilst acting as Officer Commanding Shoreham District and is buried in Grave 40 Old Shoreham Cemetery, Sussex.

Sold with original Warrants for C.B. and C.M.G., together with a quantity of research.