An unusual group of three awarded to Company Quartermaster Serjeant H. T. Blake, Royal Garrison Artillery - awarded both an ‘Immediate’ and an ‘Annuity’ M.S.M.

Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (67380 Bty. Q.M. Sjt., R.G.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. 282070 C.Q.M. Sjt., R.G.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue ‘Ind. Imp’ (67380 B.Q.M. Sjt., R.A.) mounted for wear, first two with contact marks, nearly very fine; last with minor marks, nearly extremely fine (3) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes.

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Ex D.N.W. 4 December 2008.

M.S.M. London Gazette 22 February 1919. ‘... in recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war’.

Henry Thomas Blake was born on 29 March 1869 at the Infantry Barracks, New Windsor, the son of William Blake who was a Private in the Grenadier Guards. A Labourer by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Artillery at Great Yarmouth on 28 May 1888, aged 19 years, 2 months. With the Royal Garrison Artillery, he served in India, February 1889-February 1910. Attaining the rank of Battery Quartermaster Serjeant, he was awarded the Army L.S. & G.C. Medal with a Gratuity in October 1906. Blake was discharged to a pension on 9 March 1910. In the Great War he volunteered ‘for the duration’ on 11 May 1915 and was regranted the rank of B.Q.M.S. in the Royal Artillery on the same day. At the time of his re-enlistment his home town was given as Portsmouth. Blake was demobilised to ‘Z’ Reserve on 28 January 1920 having attained the rank of Company Quartermaster Serjeant. For his services during the war, he was awarded the M.S.M. In the course of time Blake was awarded the M.S.M. with Annuity - this notified in the Army Order 103, dated 30 June 1945. As he had already been awarded the M.S.M. in the Great War, he should have only received the Annuity in 1945, but through error, understandable due to the length of time, he was awarded a second medal. Henry Blake died on 4 April 1946. Sold with copied service papers, birth and death certificates and other copied research.