Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Lieutenant-Colonel T. C. E. Goff, Royal Scots

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (Capt. T. C. E. Goff. Rl. Scots.) top lugs neatly removed; 1914-15 Star (Capt: T. C. E. Goff. R. Scots.); British War and Victory Medals (Major T. C. E. Goff.) mounted as originally worn, last a little polished, otherwise generally very fine or better (4) £300-£400

Thomas Clarence Edward Goff was born in 1869, and was the great-grandson of King William IV. He was educated at Eton and Oxford, and was commissioned Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) in May 1888, advancing to Captain in 1890. Goff married Lady Cecilie Heathcote Drummond Willoughby, daughter of the Earl of Ancaster, in 1896. He served with the Regiment during the Second Boer War, and was present in actions including at Venterskroon, 9 August 1900. Goff advanced to Honorary Major in February 1904, and resigned his commission in May the following year.

Goff re-engaged from the Special Reserve for service with 3rd Battalion, 10 September 1914. He served during the Great War with the 2nd Battalion in the French theatre of war from January 1915. Goff subsequently served as Temporary Major, Commandant on the Lines of Communication from March 1916. He advanced to Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, Commandant of a Base Depot in September 1917 (entitled to Silver War Badge).

Goff was a London County Councillor, Justice of the Peace and High Sheriff of Yorkshire, with his seat at Carrowroe Park, Co. Roscommon in Ireland. In 1921 he purchased the early Georgian house called The Courts, in Holt, Wiltshire. He and his wife built on earlier work there by Sir George Hastings by developing the gardens and donating the whole property to the National Trust in 1943. The Goffs were visited at Holt by Queen Mary and the cup and saucer that the Queen used is now in Bradford on Avon Museum.

Goff re-engaged for service during the Second War, and commanded the Holt & Staverton Local Defence Volunteers, Home Guard. He died in 1949.