A Great War ‘Civil Division’ M.B.E. pair awarded to Private J. W. Reading, 12th Middlesex (Civil Service) Rifle Volunteers and City of London Imperial Volunteers, who served during the Great War on the conscientious objectors panel

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1917; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (1108 Pte. J. W. Reading, C.I.V.) mounted as worn, edge bruise to QSA, very fine and better (2) £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Provenance: J. B. Hayward, September 1972.

M.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 1 January 1918.

Joseph William Reading was born in Kensington, London in 1877. A clerk at the Census Office, he joined the 12th Middlesex (Civil Service) Rifle Volunteers on 17 February 1897 and served with the Infantry Battalion of the City Imperial Volunteers during the Boer War.

Reading’s M.B.E. is said to have been awarded for services on the conscientious objectors panel, 1914-18.