The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

An inter-War ‘Civil Division’ C.B.E. group of eight awarded to Sergeant A. A. Oliver, 12th Middlesex (Civil Service) Rifle Volunteers and City of London Imperial Volunteers, later Major, 2/15th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own Civil Service Rifles), who was twice Mentioned in Despatches during the Great War in connection with services in Salonika and Palestine

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, fitted with small replacement suspension ring, enamel damaged on one arm; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (1113 Sgt. A. A. Oliver, C.I.V.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major A. A. Oliver); Coronation 1902, bronze; Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919, complete with integral top riband bar, generally good very fine (8) £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

View
Collection

C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1929: ‘Major Alfred Alexander Oliver, Clerk to the Special Commissioners of Income Tax.’

Alfred Alexander Oliver was born in Islington, Midlesex in 1875. He joined the 12th Middlesex (Civil Service) Rifle Volunteers on 29 November 1894, advancing to Colour Sergeant before serving in South Africa as a Sergeant with “C” Company in the Infantry Battalion, City Imperial Volunteers, during the Boer War.

Following the outbreak of the Great War, Oliver was commissioned into the 2/15th (County of London) Battalion (Prince of Wales’s Own Civil Service Rifles) serving with them on the Western Front as a Captain from 23 June 1916. Deployed to Salonika on 30 November 1916, the Battalion was engaged in the Battle of Doiran, Oliver being advanced to Major and Mentioned in Despatches for his distinguished services in the period up to 29th March 1917 (London Gazette 21 July 1917). Next sent to Egypt in June 1917 and engaged in various actions as part of the Palestine Campaign, Oliver received his second Mention in Despatches for his work in the period 16 March 1918 to 30 May 1918 (London Gazette 22 January 1919) - a period that saw his Battalion engaged in the capture of Jericho, the Battle of Tell’Asur, the attack on Amman and both Trans Jordan raids.

The Battalion embarked for France in May 1918 and, transferring to the 90th Brigade of the 30th Division in July, were engaged in various actions on the Western Front including the Advance of Flanders and the Battle of Courtrai. After the war, Major Oliver returned to his career as a civil servant with the Inland Revenue, his work being recognised with the award of the C.B.E in 1929.