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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 476

A campaign group of ten awarded to Colonel G. L. Blight, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who authored a book on the History of the Berkshire Regiment

1914-15 Star (2/Lieut. G.L. Blight. R. Berks. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. G.L. Blight.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, N. W. Persia (Lieut. C.L. Blight. R. Berks. R.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1921-24 (Capt. G.L. Blight. R. Berks. R.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves; Coronation 1937, all with their original boxes of issue except for the Second World War medals, overall very fine (10)

Gordon Lyne Blight was born in 1895 in Egloshayle, Cornwall and was gazetted as a temporary 2nd Lieutenant on 2 December 1914. He was seconded to the 18th Eastern Division Cyclist Company from the 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment in March 1915, with whom he disembarked at Boulogne to join the Western Front that July. Blight was gazetted as a Regular Army Lieutenant on 1 July 1917, and was appointed Acting Captain while employed as an Adjutant the following month. Blight was Mentioned in Dispatches for the Western Front as Acting Captain attached to the 13th Battalion, appearing in the London Gazette on 27 December 1918. He was made temporary Captain in February 1919, a rank which he relinquished in December upon ceasing to be employed with the Corps.

After the Great War, Blight was posted to Northwest Persia along with the 1st Royal Berkshire Regiment in May 1920 and promoted Captain in September 1923. They were posted to Waziristan early in 1924 and stationed there from March 1924 until March 1925. After returning home, Blight was appointed Major in February 1933 and attended the Coronation ceremony of King George VI in May 1937.

Blight was made Lieutenant-Colonel in August 1939 before the outbreak of the Second World War. He acted as temporary Brigadier Commanding Officer of the 47th and later the 30th Indian Infantry Brigades during the time from 1941-44, served as Commanding Officer of the 2nd Indian Infantry Division from August 1943, and was Mentioned in Dispatches for Burma and Eastern India that December.

Blight was appointed Colonel with the Royal Berkshire Regiment on the final day of 1943 for which he was gazetted in January 1944. He was retained on the Active List in 1948 but removed from the Reserve of Officers in 1953 as he was over the age for recall. That same year, Blight authored The History of the Royal Berkshire Regiment 1920-1947, and later died at Tavistock in 1976.

Sold together with copied research, a Steward badge for the 105th Annual Festival in 1947 in its original Spencer case of issue, as well as Army Reservists badge with original slip of issue.

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Sold for
£850

Starting price
£210