Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Order of St. John group of seven awarded to Driver W. E. Cleary, Army Service Corps and St. John Ambulance Brigade

The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast badge, silver and enamel, circular badge with white enamel cross with heraldic beasts in angles raised above the background; British War Medal 1914-20 (T-370262 Dvr. W. E. Cleary. A.S.C.); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (William E. Cleary.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (T-370262 Dvr. W. E. Cleary. A.S.C.); Defence Medal; St. John Service Medal, with Second Award Bar, silvered (Pte. W. Cleary London S.J.A.B. 1952) mounted court-style as worn; Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Life-Saving Medal, bronze (W. Cleary.) with integral top ‘For Humanity’ riband bar, edge bruising and polished, nearly very fine and better (7) £140-£180

William Edward Cleary was born in 1898 and enlisted in the Army Service Corps on 2 March 1916. He was called up for service during the Great War on 12 February 1918, and served as a horse transport driver in the 15th Army Auxiliary (Horse Transport) Company in Salonika. He was discharged to Class Z Reserve on 28 November 1919. At some time during the War he served in the Merchant Navy, undertaking at least one voyage during the Great War- his father was a seaman in the merchant marine.

Cleary was a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and was made a Serving Brother of the Order in 1957- his main duties were as an assistant for all ceremonial matters for the Chancery department and the Library of the Order at St. John’s Gate, Clerkenwell. The recommendation for his admission to the Order states:
‘After investitures Mr. Cleary returns to St. John’s Gate where he assists the staff in dealing with the large number of visitors to the Museum and the Crypt. I have always found him most willing and helpful. His great quality is that he can always be relied upon to do exactly what has been asked of him. He runs his own small business and he is therefore able to attend the investitures which are normally held on working days, but I would like to point out that each time he is sacrificing his own valuable working time. He is an extremely modest and quiet man and it would be easy for the service he has given to the Order to be overlooked.’

Sold with the recipient’s Mercantile Marine War Medal letter of authorisation; Army Certificate of Transfer to the Reserve; Identity Certificate; St. John Ambulance Association lapel badge and shoulder tabs; three postcard photographs of the recipient; and various copied research.