Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Captain (Quartermaster) W. Greaves, Royal Army Medical Corps

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (9559 Pte. W. Greaves, R.A.M.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (9559 Pte. W. Greaves, R.A.M.C.); 1914-15 Star (33428. S. Mjr. W. Greaves. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Lieut. W. Greaves.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (9559. L. Sjt: W. Greaves. R.A.M.C.) very fine and better (7) £400-£500

M.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919:
‘For valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Egypt.’

Walter Greaves was born in London in 1873 and attested for the Medical Staff Corps at Kingston-upon-Thames on 29 February 1892, having previously served in the 3rd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. He served in South Africa during the Boer War from 31 August 1900 to 3 November 1902, and was promoted Corporal on 2 April 1906. Appointed Lance Sergeant on 1 January 1910, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with Gratuity per Army Order 254 of 1910, and was discharged on 28 February 1913, after 21 years’ service.

Re-enlisting on the outbreak of the Great War, Greaves served with the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Sergeant Major on the Western Front from 7 September 1915. He saw further service in Egypt, and was commissioned Lieutenant (Quartermaster) on 2 September 1918. For his services during the Great War in Egypt he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire. He relinquished his commission with the rank of Captain, and died in 1956.

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