Bill's Belgian Medals

Medal Groups Page 5

    A departure from my current focus
    on Belgian Groups, this British
    group appealed because it spanned
    the Great War and the Second
    World War and is well documented.

    It comes with a wealth of
    information about a Major Gates
    and his military career, including
    extracts from his service records
    and the London Gazette.

    However, the connection with my
    current collection is the addition of
    the Belgian Croix de Guerre - also
    gazetted.
Bill's Belgian Medals

At the left is a fabulous World War 2 and
Korean War Group. More on this group
later.

    A departure from my current focus on Belgian Groups, this British group appealed because it spanned
    the Great War and the Second World War and is well documented. It comes with a wealth of information
    about a Major Gates and his military career, including extracts from his service records and the London
    Gazette. However, the connection with my current collection is the addition of the Belgian Croix de
    Guerre - also gazetted.

    British collectors will see that I have added the MBE (1st Type) medal and miniature that he received, but
    which he was obliged to return when he was awarded the OBE (2nd Type) in 1937.

    Herbert George Gates was born on 14th January 1892 in Cambridge.  He enlisted into the Royal Suffolk
    Hussars ion 23rd October 1909 and completed 4 years service until 22nd November 1913.  He remained in
    the reserves until he enlisted into the Royal Engineers Motor Cyclist Section on 1st February 1915. Gates
    had been appointed L/Cpl on November 30, 1914 (TF) and was promoted Sgt on December 1, 1914.  
    However, he reverted to Cpl at his own request on April 22, 1915.  

    Gates was posted to the B.E.F. in France on May 12, 1915 and remained there until February 21, 1916.  He
    then spent some time in hospital after an operation in France and convalesced at Eastbourne Hospital
    until June 6, 1916.  He was appointed Acting Sergeant July 1, 1916 and subsequently 2nd Lt on January 1,
    1917.  He transferred to the Cavalry Corps, Signals Division on February 13, 1917.

    Gates was promoted Lt on July 27 1918 and was mentioned in dispatches on December 23 1918 when
    serving with the 20th Army Troops Coy.  He was promoted to Acting Captain on February 28 1919 and
    was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre on September 4, 1919.  He was subsequently appointed Acting
    Major on November 13, 1919.

    Major Gates officially retired on April 21, 1926 and was placed on reserve territorial force duty.  He was
    then serving with the British Army on the Rhine where his services were highly valued and were
    commended by the C in C.  He was released and retained the rank of Major on July 1, 1926.  He was
    awarded the MBE (Military Division) on July 3, 1926.  But his military career now continued with the Air
    Ministry when he was the sole officer in charge of the Works and Buildings on the Island of Malta
    Command on October 15, 1930 at Valletta.  He received the OBE (Military Division) in 1937.

    Major Gates was appointed to an Emergency Commission (Gazetted)  on July 7, 1940 in the rank of Acting
    Major; he relinquished that commission on July 10, 1942.  His service records record his entitlement to
    1939-45 Star, War Medal and Defence Medals, in addition to the 1915 Star, BWM, Victory Medal with MID,
    MBE, OBE and Croix de Guerre.
Last Updated 17 November 2007