Description: Great War O.B.E. group of five awarded to Colonel M. W. P. Block, Royal Artillery and Corps of British Interpreters, who died on 5 March 1919. Block was one of just two Colonel's to be awarded the 1914 Star within either the Corps of Military Interpreters or Intelligence Corps.The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, 1st Type Officer's breast Badge with Garrard case of issue; 1914 Star, British War and Victory Medals (1914-18), all impressed named BT: COL:M.W.P. BLOCK. Medals court mounted for display, with Memorial plaque named MAURICE WILLIAM PALMER BLOCK. Includes copies of newspaper articles, M.I.C., medal rolls, Officer’s lists, London Gazette extract and christening papers.O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1919.Colonel Maurice William Palmer Block O.B.E. was born during the Indian Mutiny on 3/9/1857 at Howrah, Bengal. He was educated at Clifton College and the Royal Military Academy Woolwich, being commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 25/1/1877. He retired as a Colonel in December 1908.At the outbreak of the Great War, he or his old friends, found a position for him as an interpreter with the Corps of British Interpreters. He landed in France on 27/9/1914 and served for a few months until appointed to command the Royal Garrison Artillery, East Forts, Culver (Isle of Wight). He served until retiring on 20/4/1918. Post war he was holidaying in France when he died on 5/3/1919 and is buried in a Commonwealth War Grave at the Dijon (Les Pejoces) Communal Cemetery.It is not certain if he is entitled to the ‘August to November Clasp’ as his widow did apply for it, however there is no mention of it actually being awarded.Corps of InterpretersIn August 1914 the Corps of Interpreters was formally established. Interpreters were administered by the same section of the War Office as the Intelligence Corps, which was also raised iat the same time. These were French speakers attached to units of the B.E.F. (and a sizeable group attached to Indian Army units arriving in France). Since the French had agreed pre-war to provide interpreters for the B.E.F. the corps quickly faded from employment, with some finding positions with RTO and APM staffs, a few went to the Intelligence Corps, and others being demobilised.The Interpreters and Intelligence Corps medal roll for the 1914 Star contains the names of 95 officers (no enlisted men) comprising 64 Lieutenants, 14 Captains, 10 Majors, 5 Lt Colonels and 2 Colonels, Block being one of these 2. Please view my other collector's items for sale. Overseas buyers, if you want to buy these and pay direct, this will mean you won't be paying import duty. Get in touch. I can combine postage, please just message me before payment and I can invoice you direct. If you are still bidding on items, let me know and we can discuss a later date for payment. If you have a problem with the transaction at any stage, please contact me, nothing I can do about a problem if you don't let me know first.
Price: 1995 AUD
Location: Stoneville, WA
End Time: 2024-12-28T11:47:55.000Z
Shipping Cost: 27.03 AUD
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Item Specifics
Restocking fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
Returns Accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Campaign: World War I
Product Type: Medals
Era: 1910s
Country: Britain
Original/Reproduction: Original
Theme: Militaria
