The Fine Collection of Medals to 'Old Contemptibles' formed by Major Bob Keay

The Great War M.C. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant Colonel T. B. Olive, 3rd (King’s Own) Hussars

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed ‘Capt. T. B. Olive, 3rd Hussars’; 1914 Star, with clasp (Captain, 3/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major); Serbia, Order of the White Eagle, 2nd type, 5th Class breast badge with swords, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; Greece, War Cross 1916-17, 3rd Class, silvered bronze, plain ribbon; Medal of Military Merit 1916, 3rd Class, with bronze laurel wreath on ribbon; Royal Order of the Redeemer, Commander’s neck badge, 74 x 46mm., silver-gilt and enamel, last with enamel damage, nearly very fine and better (8) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Fine Collection of Medals to 'Old Contemptibles' formed by Major Bob Keay.

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M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916.

Despatches twice London Gazette 1 January 1916 (France and Flanders) and 21 July 1917 (Salonika).

Serbian Order of The White Eagle, 4th Class with swords London Gazette 16 January 1920.

Greek War Cross, 3rd Class London Gazette 26 November 1919.

Greek Medal of Military Merit London Gazette 2 March 1923.

Greek Order of The Redeemer London Gazette 29 June 1923.

Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Bertram Olive served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. from 16 August 1914 as second-in-command of ‘B’ Squadron, 3rd Hussars and then as a Staff Officer up until 9 July 1916. He subsequently served in Greek Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, European Turkey and the Islands of the Aegean from 2 September 1916 to 11 November 1918 during the majority of which time he held various senior staff posts within the Cavalry Brigade.

The published regimental history, The 3rd (King’s Own) Hussars in The Great War 1914-1919, by Lieut. Col. W. T. Wilcox, CMG credits Olive with the following honours: ‘M.C., Brevet Major, Serbian Order White Eagle (3rd Class), 3 Greek Orders, American Bronze Medal, Despatches. With H.Q. Cavalry Corps and British Salonika Force.’