Great War pair and Second World War Defence Medal awarded to Corporal E.S. Grave, 24th Battalion, London Regiment who saw service on the Western Front, in Salonika and in Egypt during the Great War being wounded in action on 18th September 1918. He would later be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers during the Second World War.
Group of 3: British War Medal and Victory Medal; (5767 CPL. E.S. GRAVE. 24-LOND. R.) Defence Medal, unnamed as issued.
Condition: Good Very Fine
Ernest Samuel Grave was born on 13th May 1893, the son of Arthur James (Jewellers Porter) and Matilda Caroline Grave of 87 Blythwood Road, Goodmayes, Essex. He would join up immediately on the outbreak of the Great War initially serving with the 7th Battalion, London Regiment, before on 2nd/24th Battalion, London regiment on 24th March 1916.
He would arrive in France on 26th June 1916 and would take part in the fighting on Vimy Ridge as well as on the Somme. He would leave France on 3rd December 1916 and arriving at Salonika on 26th June 1916. He would leave Salonika on 16th June 1917 and arrive in Egypt on 19th June 1917 where he would take part in the fighting in Palestine.
Then embarking at Alexandria, he would arrive in France on 8th July 1918, later being wounded in action on 18th September 1918. He would return to the UK on 4th October 1918 and would be discharged on 28th August 1919.
He would see Second World War service as a Second Lieutenant in the Surrey Territorial Army Reserve of Officers earning him the Defence Medal and died in September 1968 at the age of 75.
