A Collection of Awards to the Army Service Corps

The Great War C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E. group of ten awarded to Major-General G. F. Davies, Royal Army Service Corps

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck cravat, in Garrard, London case of issue; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, neck badge conversion from a breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, reverse centre depressed; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, regilded, arms re-enamelled, in Garrard, London case; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (Capt., A.S.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Major, A.S.C.); 1914-15 Star (Col., A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Brig. Gen), these five mounted as worn; Egypt, Order of the Nile, 3rd Class neck badge by Lattes, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; Hejaz, Order of Al Nahda, badge, approx. 59mm., silver, silver-gilt and enamel, lacking usual suspension but fitted with a pin fitting to reverse, very fine and better (10) £1600-2000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Army Service Corps.

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C.B. London Gazette 11 April 1918. ‘Distinguished service in the Field in connection with Military Operations culminating in the capture of Jerusalem.’ ‘Lieut-Col. and Br. Col. (Temp. Brig-Gen.), C.M.G., A.S.C.’
C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1916. ‘Services rendered in connection with military operations in the Field.’ ‘Lieut-Col. (Temp. Col.), A.S.C.’
C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919. ‘Valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Egypt.’ ‘Lieut-Col. and Br. Col. (Temp. Brig-Gen.), C.B., C.M.G., R.A.S.C.’
Order of the Nile, 3rd Class London Gazette 16 January 1920. ‘Distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign.’ ‘Lieutenant-Colonel and Brevet Colonel (Temp. Brig-General), C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., Royal Army Service Corps’
Order of Al Nahda, 3rd Class London Gazette 8 March 1920. ‘Distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign.’ ‘Lieutenant-Colonel and Brevet Colonel (Temp. Brig-General), C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., Royal Army Service Corps.’
M.I.D. London Gazette 8 February 1901; 28 January 1916; 13 July 1916; 1 December 1916; 6 July 1917; 20 November 1917; 7 October 1918.

George Freshfield Davies was born in Barrackpore, India on 18 January 1872. He entered the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Lincolnshire Regiment in November 1892 and was promoted to Lieutenant in January 1896. Transferring to the A.S.C. in March 1896, he was promoted to Captain in April 1900 and Major in December 1908. During the Boer War he served in operations in Natal, 1899; was in the relief of Ladysmith, including the actions at Colenso, Spion Kop, Val Kranz, Tugela Heights and Pieters Hill. He then served in Natal, March-June 1900, including the action of Laing’s Nek; in operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July-November 1900 and operations in Transvaal, November 1900-May 1902. For his services he was mentioned in despatches.

Davies served throughout the Great War, being appointed D.A.A. & Q.M.G. Home Forces, October 1914-March 1915. Then entering the M.E.F. theatre in March 1915, he served in Gallipoli, March 1915-January 1916 and then in Egypt and Palestine until the end of the war, including service leading to the capture of Jerusalem. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in February 1915 and was awarded the brevet of Colonel in June 1916. Served as D.D. of S. & T. (A.D. of S. & T.) Mediterranean E.F. & E.E.F. (temp. Colonel), March 1915-July 1916; D. of S. & T., E.E.F. (temp. Brigadier-General), July 1916-July 1919. For his services he was five times mentioned in despatches and awarded the C.B., C.M.G. and C.B.E., in addition to the Order of the Nile and Order of El Nahda.

Davies was promoted to Colonel in February 1920 and to Major-General in August 1925, serving as D.D. of Trans., War Office, July 1919-March 1920; A.D. of Trans., War Office, April-June 1920; D.D. of S. & T., War Office, July 1920-March 1923; Inspector of the R.A.S.C., War Office, April 1923-August 1925; and Director of Supplies and Transport, War Office, 1925-29. Major-General Davies retired from the Army in August 1929 and, latterly living at Little Horeham, Warbleton, Sussex, he died on 2 October 1936. With copied gazette extracts, m.i.c. and other research.