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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 199

A Great War 'Mesopotamia' M.C. group of nine to Lieutenant Colonel A. V. Venables, Indian Army, late Royal Engineers, who was also 'mentioned' three times during his Great War service

Military Cross, G.V.R. (Captain A. V. Venables.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (8093 2nd Corpl: A. V. Venables. Elec: Engrs: R.E.), top lugs removed; 1914-15 Star (2/LT. A. V. Venables, I.A.R.O. Attd. 3/S.&M.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. A. V. Venables.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Indian Volunteer Decoration, G.V.R. (Capt. A. V. Venables, 1 Bn. E.I.Ry. R.,A.F.I.), engraved, hallmarked for 1927, missing top suspension, mounted as worn, lightly polished throughout, otherwise very fine (9)

M.C. London Gaette 22 December 1916.

M.I.D. London Gazette 15 June 1916, 19 October 1916, and 27 August 1918.

Arthur Vincent Venables was born at St. Pancras, London on 16 October 1880 and was educated at Bedford School. He originally began training as a Civil Engineer but halted this to serve in the Second Boer War. He attested into the Electrical Engineers, R.E. on 8 February 1901. He served in South Africa between 25 March 1901 and 2 August 1902 and during that time was promoted to 2nd Corporal on 1 April 1902.

Venables returned home on 3 August and was discharged on 1 September 1902, thereafter beginning a career with the East Indian Railway. With the outbreak of the Great War he served with both the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, 3rd Lahore Division, as well as the Royal Engineers, and later applied for his medals in 1921. After the Great War he returned to the East India Railways completing over 30 years service retiring as Agent (General Manager).

He returned to the U.K. and accepted the Surrey County directorship of the Red Cross, however with the outbreak of the Second World War his railway expertise and ability were applied to organizing No. 2 Railway Training Centre, R.E., based at Derby. Later he 'manged to escape from a staff job behind a desk at the War Office' (to use his own words) to administer A.R.P. in factories in the heart of the blitz area. Venables died at Bexhill-on-Sea on 26 July 1963; sold together with some original and copied photographs, minor research, and a British Red Cross Society Badge Honorary Life Member Badge (807).

For the recipient's dress miniatures, please see Lot 277.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£800