Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Sapper R. Gates, Royal Engineers, who served as a Telegraphist on the Western Front
1914-15 Star (70119. Spr. R. Gates, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (70119 Spr. R. Gates. R.E.); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Roland Gates) very fine and better

Three: Driver W. Postill, Royal Field Artillery, later Special Constabulary
British War and Victory Medals (81371 Dvr. W. Postill. R.A.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Walter Postill) very fine and better (7) £80-£100

Roland Gates served as a pre-War telegraphist with the General Post Office and attested at Houghton Regis for the Royal Engineers Signal Service on 26 December 1914. Sent to France from 17 January 1915, he initially struggled with influenza before being posted to the cable section of ‘Q’ Signal Company on 29 April 1917. Posted to Germany with ‘E’ Corps Signal Company as part of the Army of Occupation, he was discharged to Army Reserve in 1919 and likely returned home to Camberwell shortly thereafter. Gates was later awarded the Imperial Service Medal in the London Gazette of 19 November 1948, whilst serving as Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist in Brighton.

Walter Postill was born in 1896 and lived with his parents at 27 Windsor Crescent, Bridlington. A painter by trade, he attested for the Royal Field Artillery in his home town on 18 July 1915 and was posted to the 19th (R) Battery, R.F.A., on 14 December 1915. Sent to Mesopotamia from 20 January 1916 to 24 March 1919, his Army Service Record notes that he served with the 1/1st Sussex Battery and 6th Cavalry Brigade Ammunition Column before being transferred to the Army Reserve on 1 June 1919. It further includes a letter from his mother to the military authorities requesting news of him, adding: ‘We also have one other son missing since that month [November 1916] in France...’

Sold with copied research.