A group of 11 to Colonel E S W Waley / late Captain 16th Bat...

Estimate

£800 - £1,200

A group of 11 to Colonel E S W Waley / late Captain 16th Battalion London Regiment, Queens Westminster Rifles.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire O.B.E. Silver Hallmarked.
1914 Star with copy bar. Correctly impressed Lieut E.G. S. Waley. 16/ Lond: R.
British War Medal, correctly impressed Capt: E. G. S. Waley
Victory Medal with MID emblem, correctly impressed Capt: E. G. S. Waley
1939 to 45 Star
Africa Star
Defence Medal
War Medal
G.V.R .Officer Territorial Decoration, dated 1943
G.V.R. Special Constabulary Medal. Correctly impressed Eric. G.S. Waley
Egyptian Order of the Nile 4th Class
Condition GVF
Court mounted by Spink.
In a high-quality contemporary leather display frame.
The group likely is regimentally unique or at least to someone who served in the 16th Bn.
Eric George Simon Waley was born on the 29th of August 1891 in Paddington London, the son of Alfred and Laura. The family were Jewish and were active members of the local Synagogue.
Eric was educated at Eton School and as a young man entered the Stock Exchange, as had his father and brothers.
He was commissioned into the 16th battalion London regiment - (County of London) Battalion (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) on the 19th of May 1911, serving as a territorial. When the Great War broke out, he volunteered for overseas service and went to France on the 1st of November 1914 with 1/16th Bn serving in C Coy. Later in the war with 2nd/16th , Waley served in Palestine and Egypt, being Mentioned in Despatches (5th June 1919) and awarded the Egyptian Order of the Nile 4th Class (13th January 1920)
Waley was awarded the O.B.E. in 1920 for his service during the War.
In between the Wars he remained a territorial with the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and served in the Special Constabulary in Reigate, eventually rising to Divisional Commandant.
When WW2 broke out he was commissioned as Major in the Royal Artillery and for a time commanded the 43rd Bn of the 148th Light Anti-Aircraft battery, Royal Artillery. He saw service in the Middle East and became dangerously ill on the 4th of April 1942. Upon recovery he was posted to Eritrea, becoming part of the British Miliary Administration once the Italians were defeated. By the wars end he was promoted to Colonel.
In civilian life once again, he returned to work and was very active in the community, working with the cadets, and being a major figure in the Royal British Legion. He supported hospitals and particular the welfare of nurses for whom he undertook many fundraising