The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards

A Great War ‘Italian operations’ O.B.E. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel E. A. Gates, Royal Army Medical Corps

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (Lieut., R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.) mounted for display; Italy, Altipiani Medal 1918, silver, unnamed, good very fine (5)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919 (Italy).

M.I.D. London Gazette 8 February 1917 (East Africa); 12 November 1919 (Italy).

Edward Alfred Gates was born on 16 April 1874, son of Philip Chasemore Gates, J.P., Recorder of Brighton. He was educated at Westminster School, 1887-91 and received his medical training at University College and St. Thomas’ Hospital, qualifying as a M.R.C.P., L.R.C.P. in 1898; M.B. in 1900, and M.D. London in 1902. He served as a Civil Surgeon with the Egyptian Army, 1900-02 and lived and practiced medicine in Florence, Italy, 1905-14. Upon the outbreak of war he returned to Britain and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and was commissioned a Lieutenant. Gates was posted as Medical Officer to the 25th Battalion Royal Fusiliers in mid-March 1915 and went with them to East Africa, entering that theatre of war on 10 April 1915. He was promoted to Captain in September 1915. Gates served in East Africa until early in 1918 when he was assigned to British forces serving in Italy. He was appointed Acting Lieutenant-Colonel on 19 April 1918 and was the Consulting Physician, Forward Area, British Expeditionary Forces Italy. He remained in Italy until the end of the war. For his services in East Africa and in Italy he was mentioned in despatches, and for the latter he was additionally awarded the O.B.E. After the war Dr Gates served as a Medical Specialist for the Appeals Board, Ministry of Pensions, 1919-22. In 1920 he was appointed to the Egyptian Medical Board and became the Medical Officer of Westminster School, serving in both posts until 1950. Dr Gates died on 19 July 1965.

With copied research.