Captain Geoffrey Evelyn MBE TD Royal Signals
The Man Geoffrey Evelyn was born Geoffrey Sorg on Tuesday 27th March 1888 in Coldharbour, Surrey, son of Edward Francis a former Watchmaker and latterly Photographer and Jemima Elizabeth nee Williams.
Geoffrey was one of nine children, Eva Frances born in 1886, Edward Frederick 1890, who sadly died aged just three months old, Alice 1892, May Blanche 1894, Rose 1897, Nellie 1899, Robert 1901and Ruth 1904. He was Baptised on 295h April 1888.
By 1891 the family had changed their surname from Sorg to Evelyn. The change took place in the six months from Frederick’s burial on 11th October 1890 and the 1891 census six months later in 1891, by which time family were living t 219 High Street in Aldershot. Ten years later by 1901 they lived at 46 Gordon Road, Aldershot and in 1911 at 9 Herrett Street, Aldershot. Geoffrey now aged 23 was shown as an Assistant Mineral Water Trade Worker.
Geoffrey, aged 22, enlisted into the Hampshire Regiment Territorial Force in about 1910 as a Private with service number 1037. When World War I started on 4th August 1914, he was embodied and called up, transferring into the Royal Engineers (Territorial) with a new number 3207 and promoted to Acting Corporal. He landed in France for service on the Western Front on 23rd December 1914 and later promoted to Sergeant and with another new service number 510103.
Geoffrey served on the Western Front for the duration of the War and was wounded in 1916, the award of a Wound Stripe being awarded in Army Order 204 of 6th July 1916 and in the War Office Weekly Casualty List on 18th June 1918.
At the end of the War Geoffrey was awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals and immediately re-enlisted into the Regular Army, Royal Signals with service number 314560, later changed yet again to 2307301. In Army Order 65 of 1921 he was awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal for 12 years’ service, 1910 - 1918 with his war service counting double.
Geoffrey was one of nine children, Eva Frances born in 1886, Edward Frederick 1890, who sadly died aged just three months old, Alice 1892, May Blanche 1894, Rose 1897, Nellie 1899, Robert 1901and Ruth 1904. He was Baptised on 295h April 1888.
By 1891 the family had changed their surname from Sorg to Evelyn. The change took place in the six months from Frederick’s burial on 11th October 1890 and the 1891 census six months later in 1891, by which time family were living t 219 High Street in Aldershot. Ten years later by 1901 they lived at 46 Gordon Road, Aldershot and in 1911 at 9 Herrett Street, Aldershot. Geoffrey now aged 23 was shown as an Assistant Mineral Water Trade Worker.
Geoffrey, aged 22, enlisted into the Hampshire Regiment Territorial Force in about 1910 as a Private with service number 1037. When World War I started on 4th August 1914, he was embodied and called up, transferring into the Royal Engineers (Territorial) with a new number 3207 and promoted to Acting Corporal. He landed in France for service on the Western Front on 23rd December 1914 and later promoted to Sergeant and with another new service number 510103.
Geoffrey served on the Western Front for the duration of the War and was wounded in 1916, the award of a Wound Stripe being awarded in Army Order 204 of 6th July 1916 and in the War Office Weekly Casualty List on 18th June 1918.
At the end of the War Geoffrey was awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals and immediately re-enlisted into the Regular Army, Royal Signals with service number 314560, later changed yet again to 2307301. In Army Order 65 of 1921 he was awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal for 12 years’ service, 1910 - 1918 with his war service counting double.
Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. 1914-15 Star. 1914-18 British War Medal. Victory Medal. General Service Medal 'Palestine'. 1939-45 Star. Africa Star. Italy Star. Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Efficiency Decoration 'Territorial'. Territorial force Efficiency Medal.
On 16th August 1923 aged 38 he married Georgina Jane Elizabeth Coles, a Farmers daughter at St Peter’s Church in the Parish of Ash, Surrey. His profession was given as Soldier. In 1930 they lived at Prospect House, Prospect Road in Ash Vale with Georgina’s family. Geoffrey is shown as absent on the electoral register and they had no children.
He was promoted through the ranks to Warrant Officer Class II and in Army Order 81 of 1936 awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for 18 years’ service in the Regular Army.
Between 1936 and 1939 Geoffrey was posted to Palestine with the Palestine Force Signals as Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, the senior assistant to the quartermaster of a regiment or battalion and also usually functions as the deputy regimental sergeant major. The 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine was a nationalist uprising by Palestinian Arabs in Mandatory Palestine against British colonial rule, as a demand for independence and opposition to mass Jewish immigration. He was awarded the General Service Medal with clasp ‘Palestine’.
Geoffrey retired from the Regular Army and on 31st May 1939 aged 51 was Commissioned into the Territorial Army, Royal Signals as Lieutenant Quarter Master with a new service number of 90198. Although he was absent from the 1939 census Georgina is shown as living in London County Council Flats, 25 Honeybrook Road, Wandsworth and shown as a member of the British Red Cross Society and Civil Nursing Reserve.
At the start of World War II on 3rd September 1939, Geoffrey found himself once again being embodied and called up for service. He was posted to the Middle East Theatre of War in April 1941, which was defined largely by reference to the British Middle East Command, which controlled Allied forces in both Southwest Asia and eastern North Africa. From 1943, most of the action and forces concerned were in the adjoining Mediterranean Theatre.
He served in the No 3 Air Formation Signals which was formed in the Canal Zone of Egypt in February 1941 and remained in the area until 11th March 1945, when it was disbanded and became M Company AFS. AFS Regiments were Army resources deployed in support of the RAF and were usually jointly manned by Army and RAF signallers. A regiment comprised a few specialist sub-units (troops) for operating (wireless and line), line construction, maintenance, and despatch riders.
He was promoted through the ranks to Warrant Officer Class II and in Army Order 81 of 1936 awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for 18 years’ service in the Regular Army.
Between 1936 and 1939 Geoffrey was posted to Palestine with the Palestine Force Signals as Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, the senior assistant to the quartermaster of a regiment or battalion and also usually functions as the deputy regimental sergeant major. The 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine was a nationalist uprising by Palestinian Arabs in Mandatory Palestine against British colonial rule, as a demand for independence and opposition to mass Jewish immigration. He was awarded the General Service Medal with clasp ‘Palestine’.
Geoffrey retired from the Regular Army and on 31st May 1939 aged 51 was Commissioned into the Territorial Army, Royal Signals as Lieutenant Quarter Master with a new service number of 90198. Although he was absent from the 1939 census Georgina is shown as living in London County Council Flats, 25 Honeybrook Road, Wandsworth and shown as a member of the British Red Cross Society and Civil Nursing Reserve.
At the start of World War II on 3rd September 1939, Geoffrey found himself once again being embodied and called up for service. He was posted to the Middle East Theatre of War in April 1941, which was defined largely by reference to the British Middle East Command, which controlled Allied forces in both Southwest Asia and eastern North Africa. From 1943, most of the action and forces concerned were in the adjoining Mediterranean Theatre.
He served in the No 3 Air Formation Signals which was formed in the Canal Zone of Egypt in February 1941 and remained in the area until 11th March 1945, when it was disbanded and became M Company AFS. AFS Regiments were Army resources deployed in support of the RAF and were usually jointly manned by Army and RAF signallers. A regiment comprised a few specialist sub-units (troops) for operating (wireless and line), line construction, maintenance, and despatch riders.
On 1st November 1942 Geoffrey was promoted to War Substantive Captain with seniority backdated to 31st May 1939 and in 1943 was recommended by Colonel J H Cameron-Webb to be appointed as a Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, which was approved and awarded, notification appearing in the London Gazette of February 1943.
Geoffrey’s citation read:
“Since he arrived in the Middle East Command in April 1941, this officer has shown outstanding devotion to duty. He has worked exceptionally long hours, not only serving his own Unit, but equipping other Air Formation Signals Units in the Middle East Command, in which work he has shown outstanding initiative and drive”.
For his service in the MEC during World War II Geoffrey was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
On 31st May 1945 Geoffrey was promoted to Captain (Quarter Master) and five months later on 5th October aged 57 relinquished his Commission having exceeded the age limit.
In November 1953 Geoffrey was belatedly awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ for his six years’ service 1939-45 with was service counting double.
Geoffrey and Georgina lived at Myrtle Cottage, Island road, Sturry, Kent. He died on 14th September 1958 aged 70 in Kent and Canterbury Hospital of Septicaemia, Multiple abscesses and Diabetes Mellitus and arteriosclerosis. He left £2026 9s 9d to Georgina in his will.
Georgina lived another 24 years and remarried to William H Pagett, although there are two records of the marriage one in 1960 the other in 1971! Georgina died on 5th February 1982 aged 86.
Geoffrey’s citation read:
“Since he arrived in the Middle East Command in April 1941, this officer has shown outstanding devotion to duty. He has worked exceptionally long hours, not only serving his own Unit, but equipping other Air Formation Signals Units in the Middle East Command, in which work he has shown outstanding initiative and drive”.
For his service in the MEC during World War II Geoffrey was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
On 31st May 1945 Geoffrey was promoted to Captain (Quarter Master) and five months later on 5th October aged 57 relinquished his Commission having exceeded the age limit.
In November 1953 Geoffrey was belatedly awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ for his six years’ service 1939-45 with was service counting double.
Geoffrey and Georgina lived at Myrtle Cottage, Island road, Sturry, Kent. He died on 14th September 1958 aged 70 in Kent and Canterbury Hospital of Septicaemia, Multiple abscesses and Diabetes Mellitus and arteriosclerosis. He left £2026 9s 9d to Georgina in his will.
Georgina lived another 24 years and remarried to William H Pagett, although there are two records of the marriage one in 1960 the other in 1971! Georgina died on 5th February 1982 aged 86.
The Story The stunning group of medals awarded to Geoffrey Evelyn were acquired following an offer made, from E-Bay on 24th January 2021.
They were of immediate interest because of the treble long service combination, service in both World Wars, the General Service Medal and a photograph of the recipient, wearing his medal ribands pre-world War II.
Interestingly these very medals, may have been seen at an OMRS Convention some years ago in London as the combination and Geoffrey Evelyn’s picture seem very familiar. If it is the same group, they were missed out on at the time by a few minutes due to the ever-fatal hesitation!
A lot of research came with the medals including Army Orders for the award of the Army Long Service and Territorial Force Efficiency Medals. Further digging on Ancestry.UK, Forces War Records and location of Geoffrey’s will and death certificate revealed some additional detail.
Of interest is that Geoffrey was born with the surname Sorg. This name appears on his Birth and Baptism details but is last used by the family on the burial register for Geoffrey’s younger brother, Edward Frederick who died aged 3 months is October 1890. By the 1891 census taken on 5th April 1891, six months later, the family surname had become Evelyn. No record of the change is recorded as it was made before 1914. However careful cross referencing of Geoffrey’s parents on Ancestry, confirm this to be the case.
As a career soldier it has been possible to build up a decent biography of Geoffrey, but his Army Records may well yield more detail. Watch this space.
They were of immediate interest because of the treble long service combination, service in both World Wars, the General Service Medal and a photograph of the recipient, wearing his medal ribands pre-world War II.
Interestingly these very medals, may have been seen at an OMRS Convention some years ago in London as the combination and Geoffrey Evelyn’s picture seem very familiar. If it is the same group, they were missed out on at the time by a few minutes due to the ever-fatal hesitation!
A lot of research came with the medals including Army Orders for the award of the Army Long Service and Territorial Force Efficiency Medals. Further digging on Ancestry.UK, Forces War Records and location of Geoffrey’s will and death certificate revealed some additional detail.
Of interest is that Geoffrey was born with the surname Sorg. This name appears on his Birth and Baptism details but is last used by the family on the burial register for Geoffrey’s younger brother, Edward Frederick who died aged 3 months is October 1890. By the 1891 census taken on 5th April 1891, six months later, the family surname had become Evelyn. No record of the change is recorded as it was made before 1914. However careful cross referencing of Geoffrey’s parents on Ancestry, confirm this to be the case.
As a career soldier it has been possible to build up a decent biography of Geoffrey, but his Army Records may well yield more detail. Watch this space.
Medal Details:
- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: Unnamed as awarded.
- 1914-15 Star: 3207 PTE-A.CPL.-G.EVELYN. R.E.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 3207 SJT.G.EVELYN. R.E.
- Victory Medal: 3207 SJT.G.EVELYN. R.E.
- General Service Medal: 2307301. W.O.CL.2. G.EVELYN. R.SIGNALS.
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded
- Africa Star: Unnamed as awarded
- Italy Star: Unnamed as awarded
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded
- Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: 2307301 W.O.CL.II. G.EVELYN. R.SIGNALS.
- Efficiency Decoration: 1953
- Territorial Force Efficiency Medal: 510103 SJT G.EVELYN.R.E.
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This page last updated 21 Feb 21