Army Service of my Grandfather and Father

I have managed to refind my father and grandfather’s medal groups which feature Indian GSMs.

First my grandfather John Manton — Superintendent Clerk Oxf & Bucks Light Infantry. Indian General Service Medal Punjab Frontier 1897–98 and Tirah 1897–98 clasps plus an Edward VII Long Service Medal. Discharged to Pension 1913. His final rank was Orderly Room QM Sgt.

Re-enlisted August 14. In 1915, 5th Bn OBLI landed at Calais where DAAQMG was waiting to spirit him away to Haig’s headquarters. My grandfather had spent much of his off-duty time becoming fluent in French, German, Italian and, importantly, shorthand.

He was promoted from ORQMS (Orderly Room Quarter Master Sergeant) to WO1 Superintendent Clerk. He is noted as having been Haig’s French interpreter at the Secret Calais Conference of 1916. He received a mention in despatches in 1917, a Meritorious Service Medal in 1918 and an MBE in June 1919.

After the War, as a civilian he was employed as a shorthand writer to several Staff College Commandants including Generals Gort and Ironside: