Pair: Bandmaster H. T. J Gebbels, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, later Director of Music of the Governor of Bombay’s Orchestra

Jubilee 1935, silver, unnamed as issued; Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R, , 3rd issue (5373088 W.O. Cl.1. H.T.J. Gebbels. D.C.L.I.) about extremely fine (2) £140-180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Musicians formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord.

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Henry Theodore Jefferies Gebbels was born in 1891 and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at Chatham on 2 October 1905. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War in France from 14 August 1914 (entitled to a 1914 Star with clasp; British War Medal; and Victory Medal). Appointed Band Sergeant in 1919, he entered Kneller Hall in 1921 on a Bandmasters course. He transferred as Bandmaster to the 2nd Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 2 October 1924, and served with them in India until being discharged on 8 June 1935, when he took up an appointment as Director of Music of His Excellency the Governor of Bombay’s Orchestra. he served Lord Brabourne for two years until retiring in 1937, when he took up the post of Instructor of Music and Bandmaster at Rugby School, where he was employed for the next 30 years. Awarded his Meritorious Service under Army Order 98 of 1953, he died at Rugby on 9 June 1868.

Note: Bandmaster Gebbels’ other medals (namely the 1914 Star with clasp, British War Medal, Victory Medal, and Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, as well as another 1935 Jubilee Medal) are held in another Collection.