GARDINER George

Private George Gardiner SBStJ Royal Artillery and St John Ambulance Brigade

George Gardiner

The Man George Gardiner was born on Saturday 1st May 1920 at 11 Abbey Street, Farnham, Surrey son of Arthur George, a Timber Merchant and Carter and Sarah Ann nee Stonehouse. He was one of four children, Norman born in 1910, Matilda Florence 1914 but who sadly died less than a year later in 1915 and Arthur 1916. He was baptised on 19th June in Farnham.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 11 Abbey Street, with Sarah Stonehouse, George’s maternal grandmother. Following his education George became a Workshop Assistant and in 1939 now aged 19 he was still living with his family at the same address together with his Uncle Charley Stonehouse, a Night Watchman.

George continued for some time following the outbreak of World War II with his occupation before enlisting into the Royal Artillery as a Private with service number 994067 and serving at home during the conflict. He became eligible for the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 which were awarded to him in 1966 and 1965 respectively under two separate claims.

Following the war, he became a Watchmaker Journeyman and married Margaret, they living at 5 Upper Hale Road, Farnham and having no children. He became a member of the Royal British Legion, being awarded a 30 years’ service medal and also joined the St John Ambulance Brigade in about 1967 in Surrey. On 11th November 1975 he attended Buckingham Palace for a presentation of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold awards to members of the Brigade by His Royal Highness Prince Philip and in 1977 whilst attending Frensham Fete with the St John, he was called upon to give resuscitation to Fredrick Stevens, his speedy response was credited with saving the man’s life.

George was awarded his Service Medal of the Order of St John in 1979, followed by a further clasp in 1984.
He was a member of the Farnham Quadrilateral Division (Brigade) and retired from St John on 30th April 1988 one day before his 68th birthday. Following his retirement, George maintained his association, participating and supporting but not wearing the uniform.

On 6th December 1989 he was appointed as a Serving Brother in the Order of St John this appearing in the London Gazette of 5th January 1990. His citation read ‘Approximately 10 years ago the division was at an all-time low of only five members, it was Mr Gardener's drive and willingness that kept it together. He has always been a steady influence on the younger members’ It was also noted that ‘He refused a number of promotions in his 20 years with his division, showing continued dedication and particularly notable dedication to fundraising and house-to-house collections. George also actively maintained the division building and the instance of him saving Frederick Steven’s life was specifically mentioned’.

In later life he and Margaret lived at 60 Cortesay Road, Farnham and she predeceased him. George passed away aged 86 on 12th February 2006 of Prostate Cance in Farnham Hospital. Thus ended the life of a Gentleman who had given so much of his life for the benefit of others.

Serving Brother of the Order of St John. Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Service Medal of the Order of St John and clasp.

The Story The medals awarded to George Gardiner were acquired under two separate sets of circumstances. George’s Defence, War and Service Medal of the Order of St John were viewed on Brighton & Hove Auctioneers website via the Saleroom. They were of interest because of the large archive with the medals, including photographs of George, his original Serving Brother of St John award parchment, birth, death certificates and many letters.

Amongst the lot was a very good photograph of George wearing his medals, but with his Serving Brother of the Order (6th type 1984-1991) and with the small cross meant to be attached to his ribbon bar on the ribbon of the medal which was pinned to his jacket separately. His award document was included in the lot and the London Gazette also confirmed the award of the SBStJ.

The medals were bid upon on 7th August 2025, whilst in a bar in Singapore and acquired for a very reasonable price, there being little other interest.

The search was now on for a scarcer 6th type of the Serving Brother, only awarded between 1984 and 1991 to complete George’s entitlement. Various websites were searched and about a week later, on E-Bay and purely by chance, a 6th type Serving Brother was spotted, together with a named St John Medallion to George Gardiner! The medal even had the small cross still attached to the ribbon as worn by George. The items had clearly been separated at some point and it was imperative that they be reunited.

E-Bay was watched for the next week and a bid placed and the SBStJ and named medallion acquired, again for a reasonable cost.

Thanks to the archive of documents a search on Ancestry was straightforward and enabled a reasonable biography to be put together, interestingly he had two boxes of award for his Defence and War Medal, a fact confirmed on his Medal Index Card for service in the royal Artillery in WWII as the Defence Medal had been sent separately.

The Museum of the Order of St John also provided some useful additional biographical detail and dates of awards.

Thankfully George had kept together his personal archive of information relating to his service with the RA and S John, thankfully everything has now been reunited and George’s story can be told and his memory preserved for posterity.