Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Consular Service’ C.B.E. and Great War ‘Immediate’ D.S.O. group of five awarded to Temporary Lieutenant (Acting Captain) E. G. Sebastian, East Kent Regiment

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, complete with neck cravat in its Garrard & Co. Ltd. case of issue; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top ribbon bar; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. E. G. Sebastian. E. Kent R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. E. G. Sebastian.) the last four mounted as worn, good very fine £1,800-£2,200

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 March 1917: ‘In recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in the field.’

‘Sebastian, Erroll Graham, Temporary Lieut. (Acting Capt.), East Kent Regt. For conspicuous gallantry and skill during a night attack. Under heavy artillery and rifle fire he maintained an effective fire control, and subsequently led a charge against a strongly-held position. Being unable to cut the wire, the attackers tore it up bodily, capturing the trench with considerable loss to the enemy.’

C.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 1 January 1946: ‘Erroll Graham Sebastian, Esq., D.S.O., His Majesty’s Consul-General at Antwerp.

Erroll Graham Sebastian was born on 2 August 1892, son of Lewis Boyd Sebastian, of Lincoln’s Inn, Barrister-at-Law. He was educated at Rottingdean, Winchester, and University College, Oxford. Prior to the war he was a student at Lincoln’s Inn and a Liveryman of the Skinner’s Company. He was commissioned as Temporary Second Lieutenant into the East Kent Regiment on 16 October 1914, and promoted to Temporary Lieutenant on 16 September 1915, and to Temporary Captain on 23 March 1919. He served with the 2nd Battalion in France from October 1915 and afterwards in Salonica and Constantinople. Lieutenant Sebastian won the D.S.O. for gallantry in a night attack on “Little Ferdy” trench at Barakli Dzuma, Salonica, on 16 December 1916, the action being described at some length in the Historical Records of the Buffs 1914-19, by R. S. H. Moody (copied extracts sold with the lot). Sebastian had two brothers serving in the Army, one of whom was awarded the M.C., and another brother serving in the R.N.

In April 1922 Sebastian was appointed a Student Interpreter to the Far Eastern Consular Service, Siam. He served afterwards in Roumania and was appointed Vice-Consul at Brussels in 1932; Consul at Athens 1936; Consul-General at Athens 1940-41; attached Minister of State’s Office, Cairo 1941-42; Consul-General at Gothenburg 1942-44; Consul-General at Antwerp 1944-50; and finally Consul-General at Milan 1950-52, after which he retired.

Erroll Sebastian died at Coggeshall, Essex, on 13 September 1978.