Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An interesting British War Medal awarded to Captain N. A. Rew, Royal Engineers, who post-War designed over 40 War Cemeteries for the Imperial (later Commonwealth) War Graves Commission

British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt. N. A. Rew.) very fine £60-£80

Noel Ackroyd Rew was born in Streatham, South London, in 1880 and was educated at Berkhamsted School and the Slade School of Fine Art. An architect by profession, he attested for the Inns of Court O.T.C. on 7 February 1916, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 21 October 1916. He served with the 93rd Field Company during the Great War on the Western Front, was appointed Adjutant (with the rank of acting Captain), and was gassed at Armentières, being removed to No. 7 General Hospital. Relinquisihing his commission on account of his wounds (the effects of gas had temporarily blinded him), he resumed his Architectural career, and was employed by the Imperial War Graves Commission.

From 1919-28 Rew designed a total of 42 War Cemeteries in France and Belgium, including Hooge Crater Cemetery in Belgium, and Rancourt Military cemetery on the Somme. One of his best-known designs was for Orchard Dump cemetery in France, where he chose an attractive local stone for a rubble wall linking two shelter features. He died in 1971.

Sold with copied research including details of the various C.W.G.C. Cemeteries that he designed.