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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 375

(x) A most unusual 1923 Medal of the Order of the British Empire group of six awarded to Company Sergeant-Major C. Inions, Royal Army Service Corps

Medal of the Order of the British Empire, G.V.R., Military Division, unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (DM2-12600 Pte. C. Inions. A.S.C.); British War and Victory (DM2-12600 Pte. C. Inions. A.S.C.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., Regular Army (T/18728 C.Q.M. Sjt. C, M. L. C. Inions R.A.S.C.), mounted as worn, some contact wear, edge bruising to third, overall very fine (6)

Charles Inions entered the war in France on 8 September 1915 as a member of the Army Service Corps, with his service number denoting that he was involved in Mechanical Transport at the time; he was admitted to No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station on 5 September 1918 with the rank of Acting Sergeant-Major. The medal rolls for the war list him alternately as a Private or an Acting-Corporal so he must have been returned to his original rank of Private. With the end of the war Inions was discharged, but re-enlisted on 6 February 1919 with the Royal Army Service Corps.

Still a Private when the award of the Medal of the Order of the British Empire was made, Inions was still acting as Sergeant-Major. For God and the Empire states of his award:

'Award to be dated 28 December 1922. Cassell (1986) list this award as being possibly for bravery in Ireland'

He was finally promoted to the role he had been acting in for so much of his career, being advanced Company Sergeant-Major prior to the award of the Army L.S. & G.C. in 1933. Retiring not long after, he is listed on the 1939 census as living in Barry, Glamorganshire and working as Foreman No. 2 Supply Reserve Depot; a note adds that he is a 'Retired Warrant Officer Class II'. After Second World War service, believed to have been with the Home Guard, Inions died on 31 March 1955; sold together with a copied summary, M.I.C. and medal rolls as well as census data and a London Gazette entry.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£350

Starting price
£320