Five: Major G. H. F. Abraham, Chatham Battalion, Royal Marine Brigade, later Naval Intelligence Department, seeing service with the legations in Bulgaria and Japan during the Second World War

1914 Star (Captain G. H. F. Abraham, R.M. Brigade.); British War and Victory Medals (Maj. G. F. H. [sic] Abraham. R.M.L.I.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (5) £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of 1914 Stars to the Royal Naval Division.

View
Collection

Gerald Heguerty Furtado Abraham was born in Victoria Chambers, St. Georges, Hanover Square, London in September 1884. He was the son of John Furtado Abraham, a tea merchant based in Jamaica, and from a Sephardic family of Portuguese Jews. Abraham was educated at St. Paul’s School, London and Royal Naval College. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1903, and advanced to Lieutenant the following year. Abraham served as an Interpreter in French in Hong Kong, as an Assistant Intelligence Officer there from 1909.

Abraham advanced to Captain, and served with the Chatham Battalion, Royal Marine Brigade (under the command of Lieutenant Colonel M. N. Parsons) at Ostend from 27 August 1914. He returned to the UK after the fall of Antwerp, and was posted as an Intelligence Officer to St. John’s, for service with the Governor of Newfoundland in September 1914. Abraham served as a General Staff Officer on the Staff of the Commander in Chief, North America and West Indies from 1916, and was appointed Brevet Major the following year. He received a letter of appreciation from J. R. Bennett, Minister of Militia, for services rendered as General Staff Officer, St. Johns, Newfoundland in 1919, and advanced to Major in the Royal Marines. Abraham was seconded to the Naval Intelligence Department, Admiralty, and posted to Shanghai in 1918.

Abraham served with the Naval Intelligence Department, 1919-1930, and was appointed a member of the Permanent Secretariat of League of Nations in 1924. He retired between the wars and resided at 54 Albion Gate, Paddington, London. Abraham was recalled for service during the Second World War with the Naval Intelligence Department, and had posts with the Legation in Japan, and at Sofia. He was approved for release in 1943, in the event that his services were required for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Association. Abraham died at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in March 1964.

Sold with copied research, including small photographic image of recipient in uniform.