Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An unusual ‘South Russia 1919’ M.B.E. and ‘Western Front 1915’ D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Quartermaster & Major F. W. Sharpe, Royal Army Medical Corps, who also received awards from Serbia for services at Salonika during 1917 and from Greece in 1919 for his work at the town of Edessa

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, hallmarked London 1919; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (10711 S. Mjr: F. W. Sharpe. R.A.M.C.); 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (10711 Q.M. Sjt. F. W. Sharpe. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Q.M. & Major F. W. Sharpe.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue10711 Q.M. Sjt: F. W. Sharpe. R.A.M.C.); Serbia, Kingdom, Order of St Sava, 5th Class, silver and enamels, chipped in places; Greece, Kingdom, Order of George I, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver and enamels, medals unmounted, generally very fine (8) £1,200-£1,600

M.B.E. London Gazette 3 February 1920: ‘... on the recommendation of the General Officer Commanding the British Military Mission, in recognition of services rendered in connection with Military Operations in South Russia. Dated 11th November 1919.’

D.C.M. London Gazette 14 January 1916; citation published 11 March 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in performance of his duties, on many occasions under heavy fire.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 22 June 1915 (Field Marshal French’s despatch of 5 April 1915).

Order of St Sava London Gazette 28 January 1918. Believed to be for distinguished services to the Serbian sick and wounded during 1917.

Order of George I London Gazette 1 July 1920.

Frederick William Sharpe was born in October 1872 at Cirencester, Gloucestershire. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps on 18 April 1895, at Aldershot, having previously served in the 1st Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment from September 1890 to February 1892, and in the Medical Staff Corps from August 1892 to March 1894, and gave his occupation as ‘medical attendant’. Sharpe initially served in the U.K. and was promoted Lance Corporal on 6 December 1899, shortly before leaving for South Africa, where he arrived on 10 January 1900, to be promoted Corporal on 12.1.00. He remained in South Africa until 22 July 1900, when he returned to the U.K., being further advanced to Lance-Sergeant on 14 May 1901; to Sergeant on 1 October 1901; and to Sergeant Instructor on 16 December 1901. He does not appear to have been awarded the Q.S.A. medal. From September 1906 until April 1907, he was stationed in Jamaica where, on 8 February, he fractured his pelvis during an earthquake, before returning once more to the U.K. On 27 August 1907, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and then spent the period February 1910 until July 1913 in South Africa. While there he was promoted to Q.M. Sergeant on 1 March 1911. On 1 April 1914, he was awarded the Long Service Good Conduct Medal, announced in Army Order 99 of 1914, upon completion of 21 years’ service.

Upon the outbreak of the Great War, Sharpe landed in France on 24 August 1914, serving with 12th General Hospital at Rouen. His service papers, however, state that he left Southampton on board S.S. Fremona on 12 August and landed in Rouen on 13 August. On 12 October 1914 he was appointed Sergeant-Major. Although his 1914 Star bears the clasp, his medal index card makes specific mention that he is ‘ineligible’, presumably because the hospital he was serving at did not qualify as being ‘within range of the German guns’. Sharpe was transferred to No 6 Cavalry Field Ambulance on 8 December 1914, and remained with that unit until 28 May 1916, when he was discharged to a commission in the R.A.M.C. as Quarter-Master.

Unfortunately, Sharpe's service papers as an officer have not been traced, so we do not know his exact movements after his commission. However, we know from his awards that he served at Salonika and in South Russia. Latterly Sharpe was promoted Major and transferred to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers.

Sold with a contemporary postcard photograph of the St Sava insignia 1917 and manuscript note ‘Presented to Lieut. F. W. Sharpe D.C.M. by order of the King of Serbia for distinguished services to the Serbian sick and wounded’, Greek award certificate for the Order of George I together with a Greek language certificate expressing thanks and gratitude of the Community of the town of Edessa for his many philanthropic acts toward the community and his generous donations to the town’s hospital and other facilities. Together with copied research including attestation papers, gazette notices and D.C.M. and Medal Index Cards.