TOPIC:

New member here, first post..

I have just yesterday purchased a Victoria 1900 chocolate box for South Africa on ebay. Inside is an old typed paper that says,
"(This box was presented to: Lt-Colonel G.H. Martin. King's Royal Rifle Corps. (At the time probably lieutenant or captain.)"

Since I am in the US and the seller is in England, it will be a while before I have it in hand, but I am excited to read the postings here. The URL for the box is here"


I have to admit that when I first saw the page from The Navy And Army Illustrated, my heart sank, as it appeared that he had died before 1900 and could not have been the recipient of the box, but the posts here have cleared that up for me. Thank you all so much.

Welcome Old Sarge,

G H Martin was at Talana and wounded there.

Here is his entry in the Talana book:

That's a great summary of his service.
I could use some deciphering of some of that, especially the part after "1st Battalion" and before his wounding at Talana. Then, much of it after the Boer War. I recognize the DSO but not sure what to make of all the others, what I assume to be awards, etc.

Old Sarge wrote: That's a great summary of his service.
I could use some deciphering of some of that, especially the part after "1st Battalion" and before his wounding at Talana. Then, much of it after the Boer War. I recognize the DSO but not sure what to make of all the others, what I assume to be awards, etc.

Here you go Sarge.......

CMG - COMPANION OF THE ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE
OBE - OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
1914-15 STAR - OBVIOUS
BWM - MRITISH WAR MEDAL 1914-1919
VM / MID - VICTORY MEDAL WITH MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES OAK LEAF
DM - DEFENCE MEDAL 1939-1944
WM - WAR MEDAL 1939-1945

Mike

P.S. THERE IS AN OLD JOKE......

CMG - COMPANION OF THE ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE
aka CALL ME GOD
KCMG - KNIGHT COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE
aka KINDLEY CALL ME GOD
GCMG - GRAND COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE
aka GOD CALLS ME GOD

Sarge.......

I also suggest you take a look here at this thread.....

www.angloboerwar.com/forum/13-miscellany...r-chocolate-tins#192

Mike

Martin must have received his chocolate box after being released in June 1900, unless they were sent to British prisoners who were being held in Pretoria.

Lord Roberts' despatch from Pretoria, June 18th 1900, listing the British officers released, included Lieutenant G. H. Martin, King's Royal Rifle Corps.

...."Colonel Gerald Hamilton Martin was born on 15 July 1879. He was the son of William John Martin and Emily Mary Letitia Hamilton. He married Mary Augusta Rennie, daughter of George Banks Rennie and Charlotte Julia Paget, on 5 May 1908. He died on 17 February 1952 at age 72, without issue.
....He was educated at Harrow School, Harrow, London, England. He was educated at Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Berkshire, England. He fought in the Boer War. He fought in the First World War. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) in 1916. He was appointed Companion, Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.) in 1918. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre. He was appointed Officer, Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) in 1919. He was AQMG of the Aldershot Command between 1925 and 1928. He was commander of the 138th (Lincoln and Leicestershire) Infantry Brigade between 1928 and 1932. He retired from the military in 1932, with the rank of Colonel, late of the King's Royal Rifle Corps."
www.thepeerage.com/p45923.htm

The original source for the quoted entry above is BLG1965 volume 3, page 616; I have no idea what BLG might be? G for Genealogy, maybe?

* BLG = Burke's Landed Gentry.