Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue (PO.16518 G. A. V. Brown, Cpl. R.M.) some edge bruising and contact marks, about very fine £100-120

George Alfred Victor Brown was born in the Parish of Alverstoke, Gosport on 27 September 1898. On 3 October 1912, aged only 14, he enlisted into the Royal Marines as a Bugler. From 1914 to 1917 he served on the cruiser Europa which spent 6 months in Mudros Bay and earned the Battle Honour “Dardanelles 1915.”  Promoted Private on 15 April 1917 he was posted to the 4th Bn R.M.L.I and it was with this unit that he took part in the famous raid on Zeebrugge where the Royal Navy earned 8 VC’s. George Brown was wounded in the raid and his name was put forward in the V.C. Ballot, but he was not elected and two other members of the 4th Battalion were selected. In recognition of the gallantry of the 4th Bn. it was decided not to use the title again. At the end of the war George Brown was posted to the 8th Battalion in Ireland and was employed guarding “Key Points” where the Globe and Laurel Magazine states that the battalion suffered “Severe Casualties”. On 28 September 1923 George Brown was suddenly posted to the 11th Battalion, which was mobilized in a few days and sailed to Constantinople to prevent a Turkish invasion. He was promoted Corporal on 23 February 1925 and awarded his L.S. & G.C. on 29 November 1931 with a gratuity. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, BWM and Victory Medals plus Silver War Badge and was discharged on the 4 October 1938 as Band Corporal. With copies of R.M. service papers and WWI Medal Roll.