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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 189

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

The remarkable and superbly well-documented C.B.E. group of four awarded to Major G. H. Griffith, Egyptian State Railways, who earned immense plaudits from the Egyptian Government and a 'mention' in 1916 for his aid to the War effort; despite this he took no medallic awards for the Great War

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, Commander's (C.B.E.) neck Badge, 1st Type, silver-gilt and enamel, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; Egypt, Kingdom, Order of Ismail, 3rd Class Commander's neck Badge, gold and enamel, maker's name, gold and date mark 'y' to reverse, in its by Lattes, Cairo, case of issue; Order of the Nile, 3rd Class Commander's neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in its Lattes, Cairo, case of issue; Turkey, Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, 4th Class breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, all of the above with their documents of issue, the latter three with both Egyptian and British documents of issue, minor enamel chip to fourth, otherwise good very fine (4)

C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1927.

Order of Ismail Licence to wear granted 13 October 1925.

Order of the Nile Licence to wear granted 1 May 1916.

Order of the Medjidie Licence to wear granted 16 October 1911.

M.I.D. London Gazette 13 October 1916.

Note whilst the recipient does have a Great War M.l.C. in the rank of Major, it notes that he is 'Ineligible for War Medals'.

George Herbert Griffith was born at Pentraeth in Anglesey, Wales in 1887, the son of Charlotte and Reverend Joesph Griffith. His father was the rector of the town, with the young Griffith being educated at Tunbridge Wells and Oswestry Schools. Entering the service of the London and North Western Railway in June 1896 he joined the family in moving to Maidenhead, Berkshire by 1901. The elder Griffith appeared there on the census with his father listed as living 'on private means' and the young Griffith as a 'Railway Clerk'.

When the nascent Egyptian State Railways called for volunteers from the British Railway services Griffith answered, joining their service in the role of Assistant Divisional Traffic Superintendent on the Egyptian State Railways in 1902. Promoted Assistant to Traffic Manager in April 1905, he was posted as Divisional Traffic Superintendent, Upper Egypt in August 1906. The next year he returned to Britain to marry Mary St. Lo Malet, the daughter of William St. Lo Malet at the Holy Trinity Church, Brompton Road.

Griffith was appointed General Traffic Superintendent in Alexandria in January 1909 and was still in this role when the Great War broke out. Griffith was appointed to the Railway Directorate (Egypt) and worked in the rank of Major, earning a 'mention' for his service in 1916. Despite this he was not awarded any war medals as a result of his service, and was instead appointed Goods Manager in January 1919. A newspaper article written on the occasion of his retirement expands on his role during the war stating:

'From 1909 to 1919 he was General Traffic Superintendent at Gabbary, and his successful handling of great numbers of troops and their supplies was recognised by a mention in dispatches in 1916, the award of the 3rd Class Order of the Nile in 1917 and the O.B.E. in 1919'

He applied for medals on 14 December 1922 with his address listed as Cairo Station, E.S.R., Egypt. His final role was as Deputy General Manager of the Egyptian State Railway in January 1924. He was not to remain in the position long however, returning to Britain with the appointment of General Manager of Pullman Car Company Ltd., appearing on the 1929 Directory in Hertfordshire.

Still in the role of General Manager in 1939 Griffith appears to have settled in Sussex. He died at Hove, Sussex on 11 April 1947; sold together with copied research and an archive of original material comprising:

i)
A portrait photograph of the recipient.

ii)
A 'Presentation booklet embossed 'Presentation to Mr G. H. Griffith, C.B.E. on the occasion of his retirement from the Egyptian State Railways Telegraphs and Telephones', containing the signatures of his employees.

iii)
A newspaper cutting relating the news of the recipient's retirement along with some career details.

iv)
Presentation documents for all three Egyptian Orders, written in Arabic together with a letter also in Arabic.

v)
Presentation documents for all three Egyptian Orders in English.

vi)
Presentation documents for the O.B.E and C.B.E..
vii)
Mention in Despatches dated 13th October 1916.

For the recipient's dress miniature awards please see Lot 276, and for a signature of 'Smokey' Smith V.C. written to the recipient see Lot 268.

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Estimate
£1,400 to £1,800

Starting price
£1100