Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Captain G. Olive, 24th (Denbighshire Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Welsh Horse Yeomanry, late 1/16th (County of London) Battalion (Queen’s Westminster Rifles), London Regiment

1914 Star (2272 Pte. G. Olive. 1/16 Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. G. Olive.) good very fine (3) £100-£140

George Olive, a hardware salesman, was born in Carmarthen on 23 March 1883 and educated at Carmarthen Grammar School. Relocating to London, he served as Sergeant in the Queen’s Westminster Rifles until 26 March 1914. He subsequently re-enlisted at the outbreak of the Great War and disembarked in France as Private on 1 November 1914. Recommended for a commission in the 3/1st Welsh Horse Yeomanry, he was appointed Second Lieutenant 25 September 1916 and posted to the Middle East as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Sent to Beersheba, he was wounded in action on 31 October 1917: ‘While in command of his platoon advancing to the attack, he was struck at the back of the right hand by a fragment of H.E. shell.’

The wound proved superficial and resulted in 1 month’s convalescence. Advanced Captain and Adjutant in the 24th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Olive survived the campaign and was discharged in May 1919. He returned home to the Boar’s Head Hotel, Carmarthen, South Wales, and made an application for his medals in 1921.

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