The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Civil Division’ C.B.E., Great War ‘Military Division’ O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Private J. B. L. Monteith, Queen’s Edinburgh Volunteers (Royal Scots) and City of London Imperial Volunteers, later Major, Gordon Highlanders, and Chairman, Lanarkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (1558 Pte. B. J. [sic] Monteith, C.I.V.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. J. B. L. Monteith. Gord. Hgrs.); British War and Victory Medals (Major J. B. L. Monteith); Defence Medal, VM officially re-impressed, edge bruising and contact marks, very fine (7) £600-£800

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

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C.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 8 June 1944.

O.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 12 December 1919:
‘In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war.’

Joseph Basil Lawrence Monteith was born at Carstairs House, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 11 August 1878, the third son of Joseph Francis Stanislaus Robert Monteith, D.L., J.P., and his wife Florence Catharine Mary. He was educated at Rossall School and Stonyhurst College and, having enlisted in the Queen’s Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers, served in South Africa during the Boer War with their City Imperial Volunteers detachment in No. 2 Mounted Infantry Company. Following the C.I.V.’s return to England, he remained in South Africa, serving in the Provisional Transvaal Constabulary from 2 October 1900 until 23 August 1901.

Returning to England, Monteith was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders on 14 September 1901, and served once more in South Africa with them from 13 January 1902 until 21 October 1902. His K.S.A., reflecting service both in the ranks with the South African Constabulary and as an officer in the Gordon Highlanders, was issued from the roll of the latter.

Monteith was advanced Captain in 1910 and Major on 9 August 1916. He served as Adjutant of the Special Reserve from March 1911 to March 1914 and as Deputy Assistant Quarter Master General from 25 January 1915, serving at Malta, and receiving the O.B.E. in connection with these services. His C.B.E. (in the Civil Division) was awarded for services during the Second World War as Chairman of the Lanarkshire War Agricultural Executive Committee. He died in Lanarkshire in 1960.