An unusual Great War military M.B.E. group of four awarded to Captain W. T. Pyke, Hampshire Regiment, late 11th Hussars

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (2072 L/Corp. 11th Husrs.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small reverse letters (262 S.Q.M. Sjt., A.P.C.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, unnamed, contact marks, some edge bruising, good fine and better (4) £440-550

M.B.E. (Mil.) London Gazette 15 April 1919. ‘Pyke, Captain William Thomas, Hamps. R., 7th June, 1918’.

William Thomas Pyke was born in Kennington, London. An Engineer by occupation, he attested for the Cavalry on 22 November 1882, aged 19 years, 4 months. He served with the 11th Hussars in Egypt, September 1884-July 1885. The 11th Hussars supplied a detachment of 2 officers and 43 other ranks as part of the Light Camel Regiment who took part in the Gordon Relief Expedition. As a Serjeant he was transferred to the Military Staff Corps in May 1889 and was promoted to Colour Serjeant in May 1892. He was transferred to the Army Pay Corps in April 1893 and was appointed Squadron Quartermaster Serjeant in May 1895, serving in Gibraltar, December 1889-March 1897. Awarded the L.S. & G.C. by A.O. 95 of 1901. Staff Quartermaster Serjeant Pyke, Army Pay Corps, took his discharge having given notice on 31 March 1908.

During the Great War he was appointed a Temporary Captain in the 5th Battalion Hampshire Regiment T.F. on 14 October 1914 and was confirmed in that rank in June 1916. Awarded the M.B.E. in 1919 for service as Acting-Secretary of the 5th Hampshire Territorial Force Association, appointed by the Army Council.

With copied service papers, gazette extract and other research including copied group photographs.