A Great War D.S.O. group of nine awarded to Colonel R. B. Airey, Army Service Corps

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s breast badge, silver; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Witterbergen (Capt., A.S.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Capt., A.S.C.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (Major, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Col.); U.S.A., American National Red Cross Medal, bronze and enamel, reverse inscribed, ‘To Colonel R. Airey. For Service, American National Red Cross’; Greece, Military Merit Medal, 2nd Class, with silver laurel wreath on ribbon, mounted court style for wear, good very fine and better (9) £2000-2400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An outstanding Collection of Awards relating to the Order of St John.

View
Collection

C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1918. ‘.... for services rendered in connection with military operations in France and Flanders.’ ‘Lt. Col., D.S.O., A.S.C.’

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1916. ‘Major and brevet Lieut.-Colonel, Army Service Corps.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 17 February 1915; 1 January 1916; 15 June 1916; 11 December 1917; 20 May 1918.

Greek, Military Merit Medal, 3rd Class London Gazette 24 October 1919.

Robert Berkeley Airey was born in Southminster, Essex on 21 September 1874, the son of Major R. H. B. Airey, late 24th Regiment. He was educated at Tonbridge and the R.M.C. Sandhurst. In January 1897 he was commissioned into the South Wales Borderers, transferring to the A.S.C. in January 1898. Promoted to Captain in January 1901 and Major in April 1912. Served in the Boer War, 1900-02, including operations in the Orange River Colony and at Witterbergen. Served with the Egyptian Army, 1902-07, after which he was an Assistant Training Instructor at the A.S.C. Training Establishment. During the 1911 cricket season, he played a few innings for Hampshire County Cricket Club. During the Great War he was on the Staff in France/Flanders, October 1914-September 1918; initially as D.A.Q.M.G., IV Corps and latterly A.A. & Q.M.G., 59th Division. He was then in Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, European Turkey and the Ægean Islands, September-November 1918, initially as Deputy Director of Supplies and Transport in Salonika and then with the British Army of the Black Sea. For his services he was five times mentioned in despatches, awarded the C.M.G., D.S.O. and the Greek Military Merit Medal and given the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel. After the war he was Colonel-in Charge of R.A.S.C. records until his retirement in 1924. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of St. John on 27 February 1931. Lieutenant-Colonel Airey, latterly living at 51 Corringham Road, Wembley Park, died on 23 June 1933. With copied m.i.c. and other research.