Companion of the Order of the St Michael and St George, CMG Neck Badge unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (MAJOR W.C. GALBRAITH. A.S.C.); British War Medal (LT. COL. W.C. GALBRAITH); Victory Medal with MID oak leaf emblem (LT. COL. W.C. GALBRAITH); 1911 George V Coronation Medal; George V Territorial Decoration with hallmarks for London 1922 - sold with a Treasury of War Poetry - British & American poems of the World War 1914-1919 which volume contains one of his own poems "Red Poppies in the Corn"
William Campbell Galbraith was born in Southend, Argyll and Bute 1869. He was a Shipping Clark in early life and the driving force behind the 47th (London) Divisional Train of the Army Service Corps. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 22/5/1908. Promoted Captain 5/3/1909 and Major 1/6/1912.
By early 1915 he was in France and officer commanding the 47th Div. Train. He was appointed CMG on 1/1/1916 (LG) and promoted to Temp. Lieutenant Colonel 29/6/1916. He relinquished his commission on 1/8/1921 and was then promoted to Brevet Colonel, with precedence from 30/6/1921. He is listed in the Jan 1925 Army List as Colonel (with TD).
He was 4 times Mentioned in Disptaches as follows:
London Gazette:
CMG - 1st January 1916
MID - 1st January 1916
MID - 4th January 1917
MID - 21st December 1917
MID - 25th May 1918
A keen author and amateur poet he was educated in Millknowe School with his first appointment in the Duke of Argyll's Office in Campbeltown where he served an apprenticeship of 4 1/2 years. He was then in the employ of the British India Steam Navigation Company where he served for 26 years including a transfer to their London office which is where joined the London Scottish as a volunteer rising to the rank of Major before transferring to the Army Service Corps.
He had several near misses at the front - on on occasion being only five minutes away from a compound when it was wrecked by shell fire. On another occasion a piece of spent shell struck him, but without any serious result. Galbraith was for many years Honorary Secretary of the London Argyllshire Association.
He passed away in London in 1946.
Medals are in good condition unless otherwise indicated. Sold with a file of research.
