Distinguished Service Order GVR; Military Cross GVR; British War Medal (MAJOR G.N. KINGSFORD.); Victory Medal with M.I.D. Oakleaf (MAJOR G.N. KINGSFORD.); War Medal 1939-45 - unnamed as awarded.
Geoffrey Neville Kingsford DSO MC, was Born on 19th June 1882 in Brentford, Middlesex, the son of Douglas Kingsford, a Barrister, and Beatrice Emma Brock (born Hollinshead) Kingsford, of Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent.
The family was well regarded, his Grandfather Rev Sampson Kingsford was the Headmaster of both Chard Grammar School as well as Ludlow. As a boy he attended Malvern College and was in the “Swann” boarding house entering in January 1897. Mod. IV.-I. He played House Eleven Football.
Then went on to South Eastern Agricultural College in Wye, followed by becoming Associate of the Surveyor’s Institution, in business with City Surveyor. He also joined the Old Malvernian Society. Having qualified as a Civil Engineer he went to India and, after the outbreak of WWI, returned from Bombay to England in September 1915. He was the commissioned into the Royal Engineers, serving with 67 Field Company and was posted to Egypt on 31 December 1915.
After the war he relinquished his commission on completion of service, dated 4th February 1919, retaining the rank of Captain.
Back in civilian life, he went over to Montreal, Canada, on the SS Megantic, during May 1921, working as a Civil Engineer and noting on his travel documents that he was to be a “Settler." In almost no time at all since arriving in North America he married Margaret Musgrave on 29 November 1922, the marriage being registered in Seattle, Washington, USA.
In later life he would return back home to England, the 1939 Register shows him as a “Civilian Garrison Engineer” living with his wife at "Four Acres," Upper Lambourn, Hungerford.
Whilst back at home he returned to service during World War 2, and was commissioned a Lieutenant on 4th Nov 1940: “Captain Geoffrey Neville Kingsford D.S.O. M.C. P.A.S.I. (154640).”H was awarded a single 1939-45 War Medal for his efforts. He ended the war as a Major. He passed away on 27th October 1958 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, aged 76.
He was Mentioned in Dispatches, in the London Gazette, 4th January 1917, as Temporary Lieutenant with the award of the Military Cross being published in the Supplement to the London Gazette, 10th January 1917. the Citation reads:
“Temp Lt Geoffry Neville Kingsford, R.E. - For Conspicuous gallantry in action. He and a N.C.O. went out 6 times as a distance of about 100 yards across the open under heavy fire, carrying and placing charges which were successfully fired.”
This was followed by the award of the Distinguished Service Order, published in the London Gazette, 3rd June 1919:
“Temporary Captain, Acting Major, Geoffrey Neville Kingsford, M.C., 67th Field Company Royal Engineers.”
In 1918 “Composition of Headquarters, British Armies in France” note him as Adjutant to the HQ Divisional Engineers, under Commander Brevet Lt Colonel F.A.K. White, DSO RE at Headquarters, 11th northern Division.
Medals are in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Sold with comprehensive research. Please note that this group was originally sold with a 1914-15 Star awarded to another man. Kingsford was not entitled to the Star and, as a result, it was removed.
