Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Major (Quartermaster) G. B. Thomas, Royal Engineers

British War and Victory Medals (26665 A.W.O. Cl. 2. G. B. Thomas. R.E.) VM officially re-impressed; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (1853125 W.O. Cl. II. G. B. Thomas. R.E.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (26665 E.C. 2. Cpl. - A.Q.M. Sjt. G. B. Thomas. R.E.) edge bruising and slightly polished, otherwise generally very fine (6) £120-£160

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Lieutenant-Colonel Edward De Santis.

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George Barnes Thomas was born in Broughton, Cheshire on 23 December 1892 and was educated at Chester City and County School. A member of the Earl of Cheshire’s Yeomanry (Territorials) on his enlistment in the Royal Engineers in April 1914, he was not embarked for active service until June 1916, when he joined the Establishment of Engineer Services in France. He was subsequently promoted to Quarter-Master Sergeant and awarded the M.S.M. ‘for valuable services.’

Remaining in the Regular Army after the Armistice, Thomas served in Aden in 1927-28 and Ireland in 1931-34 and was awarded his L.S. and G.C. Medal in 1932. Having then attained the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant (Q.M.) in September 1939 and advanced Acting Captain in January 1940, and saw out the war with an appointment in S.E. District. Shortly afterwards, he was appointed an Assistant Commander, R.E., in Hamburg, where he was advanced to Major (Q.M.) in April 1947. Sadly, he died there in the following year and was buried with full military honours in the city’s British Cemetery.