An Auchterless Loon & Great War casualty un-recorded Scottish Tribute Medal Group of 5 with companion Silver War Badge: Lance-Corporal George Galen 5th (Buchan & Formartin) Battalion ) Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force)

- 1914-15 Star (2545. Pte. G. Galen. Gord. Highrs.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (2545. Pte. G. Galen. Gordons.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (2545. Pte. G. Galen. Gordons.)
- Auchterless Great War Tribute Medal 1914-19: Reverse with makers and English silver hallmarks for
- Silver War Badge (No.281821): Complete with silver issue fob chain & retaining its hinged pin & clasp fittings

All of the official Great War Medals retaining their original long lengths of bright silk moire ribands, as-issued

Wounded-in-Action: Private George Gallen, 5th Gordons is confirmed having been 'Wounded-in-Action' in 1917, while serring in Fance & Flanders with the British Expeditionary Force. The long list of Scottish Casualties published in the Scotsman Newspaper issue of refers

Auchterless Tribute Medal: Hitherto un-recorded

Obverse: Laurel sprays on either side with stylized crown with thistle head. In centre a gold plated horseshoe eng 'Auchterless' & above a gold plated shield eng 1914 - 1919

Reverse: Uniface with makers and silver hallmarks 'W.H.H.' Birmingham 1919

Metal: Silver with gold plated centres

Weight: 7g

Dimension: 26mm x 34mm

Suspension: Fixed ring 'Fob'

From local newspapers, the origins and criteria of award for this extremely scarce medal are referenced below:

Quote (The Aberdeen Daily Journal, issue of 15 July, 1919);

Auchterless

A meeting of the Patriotic Fund Committee was held in Auchterless School on Saturday - Mr Ingram in the Chair - when the proposal to give returning soldiers of the parish a war souvenir was considered. and it was resolved to arrange for a uniform memorial medal being struck and engraved. A small committee was appointed......

Unquote

Then,

Quote (The Aberdeen Daily Journal, issue of, 7 August 1915;

Auchterless

CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE. - The Auchterless Peace Celebrations Committee, met on Tuesday in Kirkton School - Mr Ingram presiding. Mr Copland, treasurer reported that after payment of accounts, a balance of about £13 would be in hand. It was resolved to deposit the balance in the bank as a parish picnic fund. The Rev. Mr Duncan reported that medals would be ready in a few weeks for presentation to returned soldiers whose homes were in Auchterless when they joined up. It was remitted to the Rev. Mr Duncan and the Rev. Mr Scott to arrange for a public presentation in the Parish Church on some suitable occasion

Unquote.

and finally.

Quote (The Aberdeen Daily Journal, issue of,,

AUCHTERLESS WAR MEMORIAL

The Auchterless War Memorial Committee met in the School on Tuesday evening - Mr Ingram, Bridgend, in the chair. The plans for the monument in memory of the fallen were further considered, and arrangements made for obtaining a final offer for the work. It was also resolved to have a list of those on service from the parish framed and hung on the Parish Hall. It was arranged that the souvenirs for returned soldiers should be presented in the Parish Church on December 3, when a joint service of the Parish Church and United Free Church congregations will be held following upon the thanksgiving service for the harvest.

Unquote.

Medals Verification: All the medals & Silver War Badge confirmed as entitled per the below following medals rolls and sources:

- 1914-15 Star: WO 329/2800. Shows disembarked 'France', 2 May 1915, and 'Discharged' 28 November 1917
- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 329/1664, Shows served 5/Gordons, later re-numbered 240647
- Interallied Victory Medal: Ref WO 329/1664. Shows served 5/Gordons, later re-numbered 240647
- Auchterless Great War Tribute Medal 1914-19: Recipient was a native of Auctherless and where his father Adam had a farm
- Silver War Badge (No. 281821): WO 329/3063. Enlisted 11/11/14 / Discharged from 5/Gordons 28/11/17

Note: The 5th (Buchan & Formartin) Battalion Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force), first entered theatre of war, France, on, 2 May 1915, with the battalion disembarking at, Boulogne, France, on 3 May 1915

George Galen, son of Adam Galen (recorded as Ploughman in 1901) and Margaret 'Maggie' Galen (nee Hay) was a native of Auchterless, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he was born circa 1889. At the time of the compilation of the 1901 National Census for Scotland, George is recorded residing with his parents and his three sibling brothers (William Galen b. 1884, Adam Galen b. 1887, and John Galen b. 1891) at the family residence located at Hatton Manor Cottage, Auchterless, Aberdeenshire. George Galen, who had been resident at his homestead located at, Smallburn, Auchterless, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is recorded to have died in Aberdeen on Christmas Day 25 December 1959

The group fresh to market, and never before offered for sale

The recipients oldest brother's Military Medal, awarded to Sergeant William Galen 27th Manitoba (City of Winnipeg) Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force, is being sold separately on the website - he had been twice wounded-in-action including once by poison-gas

Choice condition: The Great War medals virtually pristine, and only the 'Auchterless' Tribute Medal with usual signs of wear, having been worn as a 'fob'

Condition: Mostly EF

Code: 24945