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Auction: 9022 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 7

x The Scarce and Unusual ´Northern Ireland´ 1922 M.B.E., ´North Russia´ 1919 M.S.M., ´South Russia´ 1920 Order of St. Stanislas Group of Seven to Lieutenant-Colonel E.H. Griggs, Royal Engineer Postal Section, Late Army Post Office Corps a) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1st type, Military Division, Member´s (M.B.E.) breast Badge, silver (Hallmarks for London 1916) b) Queen´s South Africa 1899-1902, two clasps, Laing´s Nek, Belfast (381 Pte. E.H. Griggs, A.P.O. Corps) c) King´s South Africa 1901-02, two clasps (381 Corpl: E.H. Griggs, A.P.O.C.) d) British War and Victory Medals (Major E.H. Griggs) e) Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st ´Field Marshal´s bust´ type (570005 C.S. Mjr. E.H. Griggs. R.E.) f) Russia, Imperial, Order of St. Stanislas, Civil Division, Third Class breast Badge, by Eduard, St. Petersburg, 39mm, gold (56 zolotniki) and enamel, manufacturer´s mark on reverse, 1908-17 kokoshnik mark on suspension ring, good very fine or better, together with a bound ´Account of the Life of Major Ernest Howard Griggs, M.B.E., Royal Engineers´, containing many original photographs (7) Estimate £ 1,200-1,600 M.B.E. London Gazette 1.1.1923 Temporary Captain Ernest Howard Griggs, General List. M.S.M. London Gazette 3.10.1919 570005 Coy./S.M. Griggs, E.H. (Westcliffe-on-Sea), Royal Engineers, Murmansk Command ´´In recognition of valuable service rendered with the British Force in North Russia.´´ Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Howard Griggs, M.B.E., born Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex, May 1876; joined the London Postal Service, Inland Section, as a Temporary Sorter, February 1895; enlisted in the 24th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps (Post Office Rifles), March 1895; served with the Army Post Office Corps in South Africa from 1.3.1900; present at the actions at Laing´´s Nek and Belfast, and promoted Corporal; released from active service, 23.10.1902, and resumed his civil duty as a Sorter with the London Post Office; appointed a Registry Assistant, 26.7.1904, and assigned to the Registry Secretary´´s Office; on the outbreak of the Great War posted to the headquarters of the Royal Engineer Postal Section at Mount Pleasant, October 1914, with the rank of Sergeant; promoted Company Sergeant Major. In June 1918 Griggs was selected to accompany the Royal Engineer Postal Section to North Russia, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J. MacCarraher, reaching Murmansk in September 1918. Upon arrival Griggs and his Postal Section found a pioneer task confronting them. No premises being available for establishing a Base Army Post Office, the most adaptable thing to be found was an old Russian railway passenger car. However, a full postal service was soon up and running. He was also influential in setting up the overland mail sledge service with Archangel: "It is essential that this service should make good, otherwise our brothers at Archangel would be without news of home for the next few months owing to the sea around the port being entirely frozen over and impenetrable even for the strongest ice-breaker" (letter from the recipient refers). In recognition of his services in North Russia, Griggs was Commissioned Temporary Second Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, 10.7.1919, and on the recall of his commanding officer was appointed Officer-in-Charge, Army Postal Service, Murmansk, finally leaving North Russia on the last boat to evacuate the region. On his return to England Griggs was invited to take charge and organize the Army Postal Service in South Russia, with the British Military Mission; arrived at Novorossick, the Black Sea port, in October 1920, and from there proceeded to Rostor, on the Sea of Azov, to the headquarters of the British Military Mission. Promoted Temporary Major, General List (Specially employed), 18.10.1920, Griggs served throughout the operations, as the Mission Armies were driven back to the coast by the Bolsheviks, finally reaching the Crimea. When the position became hopeless the British Military Mission was withdrawn, and Griggs, after a two month sojourn in Egypt and Palestine, returned to England in 1921. For his service in South Russia Griggs was awarded the Order of St. Stanislas. On his return to England Griggs was posted to Northern Ireland, serving throughout the Irish Campaign, whilst based in Victoria Barracks, Belfast; promoted Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel, and awarded the M.B.E. In later years he served as Head Postmaster, Southall, Middlesex, 1924-30; and Head Postmaster, Ilford and Barking, Essex, 1930-36. He retired in 1936, and died 12.4.1946.

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