Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War M.S.M. combination group of five awarded to Sergeant E. T. May, Royal Defence Corps, late Sergeant Bugler, 24th Post Office Rifles, and Drummer, Coldstream Guards

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (30.. Drumr. E. May, 2/Cdm....); Imperial Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Edwin Thomas May); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (652 Sjt. E. T. May R.D.C.); Volunteer Force Long Service, E.VII.R. (2993 Sjt: Bugr. E. T. May 24th Midd....R.C.); Khedive’s Star 1882, reverse regimentally impressed ‘3087 C.G.’, contact marks, and edge details worn in places, good fine (5) £300-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Julian Johnson Collection.

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M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

Edwin Thomas May was born in 1860, and attested for the Coldstream Guards as a Boy in March 1873. He served as Drummer with the 2nd Battalion in Egypt and the Sudan, prior to his discharge by purchase in June 1883. Whilst employed as a porter at the General Post Office Chelsea, he enlisted for the 24th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers in August 1883. He served in ‘B’ Company, Bugle Band (awarded Volunteer L.S. & G.C. in January 1904).

Having advanced to the rank of Sergeant Bugler, May resigned from the 24th Post Office Rifles in February 1905. Being too old for active service during the Great War, he enlisted in the Royal Defence Corps and served in the 150th Company for the duration of the conflict (Awarded 1 of 54 M.S.M.s to the unit for the Great War). He continued to work with the Post Office after the war, and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal in 1920, for work as a 2nd Class Storeman. He amassed a total of 36 years service, over a 46 year period. In later life he resided in Balham, London.