Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War Salonika operations M.C. group of eight awarded to Temporary Brigadier F. R. Bloor, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, late Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. F. R. Bloor, A.O.D.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major F. R. Bloor); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937; Serbia, Order of the White Eagle, 4th Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, mounted court-style as worn, together with Whitworth Memorial Medal, bronze, named and dated ‘Frank Bloor, 1906’, in its fitted case, R.A.O.C. Rifle Association Parsons Cup Medal 1926, silver-plated, in its case, and two lapel badges, enamel slightly chipped in places on the Serbian piece, otherwise good very fine (12) £800-1000

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919:

‘For distinguished service in connection with military operations in Salonika.’

Frank Robert Bloor, who was born in October 1885, was appointed an Inspector of Ordnance Machinery and Hon. Lieutenant in the Army Ordnance Department in February 1915 and served in that capacity in France and Belgium in August-September 1915, prior to being embarked for Salonika.

In addition to his M.C. for subsequent services in the latter theatre of war, Bloor was also awarded the M.B.E. (London Gazette 7 June 1918, refers), a mention in despatches (London Gazette 28 November 1917, refers) and the Serbian Order of the White Eagle (London Gazette 16 January 1920, refers).

Remaining on the regular establishment after the war, as an officer in the R.A.O.C., he was advanced to Captain in July 1921, Major in April 1925, Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1935 and Colonel in April 1937, in which latter year he received the Coronation Medal. Having then transferred to the R.E.M.E., he gained the rank of Temporary Brigadier in the 1939-45 War and was appointed C.B.E. (London Gazette 13 June 1946, refers); sold with the recipient’s original M.I.D. certificate and a masonic certificate for the Eastern Gate Lodge, dated 19 December 1925.