WW1 & WW2 BRITISH ARMY LT COLONEL SYMES OBE DORSETSHIRE HEAVY BRIGADE ARTILLERY

Offered is a group of 8 medals to Lieutenant Colonel Symes, who served from 15/11/1913 - 21/3/1946 with the Dorsetshire Artillery Volunteers/Dorsetshire Heavy Brigade. His 32 year long military career saw him promoted from Second Lieutenant, finishing as a Lt Colonel, with service in both world wars, whilst as a civilian he was the Coroner for Weymouth Borough.

The medals sets include The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E., 2nd type, Military Division; British War and Victory Medals impressed named LIEUT. G.G.H.SYMES; Territorial Force War Medal impressed named LIEUT.G.G.H.SYMES. R.A.; Defence Medal & 1939-45 War Medal impressed named LT. COL. G.G.H.SYMES. R.A. (not boots style); Coronation 1937; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R. Mounted as worn with corresponding miniatures. Comes with copies medal rolls, Medal Index Card, census, London Gazette 1913-1946, pictures & research.

N.B. Only 27 Territorial Forces War Medals were issued to R.G.A. officer's.

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) Military Division.: Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey George Hetley Symes, T.D. Officer Commanding, Dorsetshire Heavy Brigade, Royal Artillery, Territorial Army 6/1/1939 London Gazette.

Geoffrey George Hetley Symes was born in 1891. Great Grand Son Admiral Joseph Symes. Oxford University educated (Lincoln College). Occupation Solicitor in Weymouth. His father served in the 1st Dorsetshire Artillery Volunteers and rose to the rank of Lt Colonel and commanded the unit 1900-1905. A feat that Geoffrey also accomplished. Geoffrey was commissioned 15/11/1915 into the Dorsetshire No 1 Coy. He was mobilised 3/8/1914. As a Territorial he volunteered for active service and served France 1916-1919 with possibly with 123^rd or 174^th Siege Batteries. The cadres of the 123rd and 174th Siege Batteries formed in 1916 were provided by the Dorsetshire RGA. He survived the war and returned to Weymouth and legal practice. 1938 Appointed clerk Weymouth Borough Magistrates & Coroner. A post his father held for 28 years. The Newspapers of the day are full of articles in which the Coroner Lt Col Symes investigated. 1939 Census list him as Lt Colonel CO Dorsetshire Heavy Regiment & occupation being ‘Solicitor’. He progressed through the ranks of Dorsetshire RGA to become a Lt. Colonel 1/1/1937, retiring 21/3/1946 having reached the upper age limit. Died 3/12/1971. His MIC notes that he applies for the TFWM on 10.12.1920, he lived at Monksdene, Weymouth, Dorset and 9 East Street, Dorset.