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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 222

The British War Medal awarded to Major O. M. Carbonaro, Royal Malta Artillery

British War Medal 1914-20 (Major O. M. Carbonaro.), sold together with a contemporary photograph of the recipient, very fine

Oswald Marianus Carbonaro was born on 3 August 1876 and enlisted into the Royal Malta Artillery as a 2nd Lieutenant on 6 January 1897. He was quickly promoted up the ranks, obtaining his Captaincy in April 1900. He served during the Great War and disembarked in Egypt in March 1915. Copied research of the regimental history included within the lot reads as follows:

'At Fort Leonardo, the 9.2 inch guns were dismounted from their Mark IX mountings and re-erected on Mark V mountings during the period 27th February to 7th March 1916. This complex gun shift was directed throughout by Lieutenants S. Gouder Carbone, J. Bonavita and A. J. Semini under the general supervision of Captain O. M. Carbonaro, was performed so efficiently and quickly as to elicit from the General Officer Commanding his personal commendation to the Officers and Men of No 1 Company RMA.'

Carbonaro survived the war and was promoted Major on 28 February in 1923. Later that year he retired from military service under the 'compulsory premature retirement' policy in September 1923 and died two years later in 1925. His Medal Index Card confirms the issue of a British War and Victory Medal pair and these were applied for in 1920 and were sent to 25 Howard Street, Sliema, Malta. Sold with copied research, including a letter written by Carbonaro to the R.M.A. Regimental Adjutant, and a contemporary photograph of the recipient.

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Estimate
£200 to £300

Starting price
£160