A Great War O.B.E. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel F. M. Close, Royal Engineers

The Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) 1st type; 1914-15 Star (Major, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.), mounted for display within a glazed wooden frame, nearly extremely fine (4) £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to The Royal Engineers.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

Francis Morton Close, who was born in December 1870, was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in July 1889. Advanced to Lieutenant in July 1892, he served in India between 1893-97 and at Cork with the 33rd Company of Submarine Miners between 1897-98. Subsequently employed as an Instructor back at the R.M.A., Woolwich, he gained further promotion to Captain in April 1900 and to Major in July 1909, by which latter date he was employed on ordnance survey duties at Southampton.

Still employed in the latter capacity on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he went on to serve on the Staff in France and Flanders between September 1915 and May 1916, and was mentioned in despatches by Sir Douglas Haig (London Gazette 15 June 1916). Serving back in the U.K. between May 1916 and March 1918, Close returned to France for the remainder of the War, was again mentioned in despatches by Sir Douglas (London Gazette 7 July 1919) and was awarded the O.B.E. He was placed on the Retired List as a Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1921. (see Lot 223 for sons medals).