Medal group awarded to Major Godfrey Douglas Giles, OBE, awarded from 1880-1919

The medal group comprises (from left to right): Order of the British Empire, 1st type, Military Division; 2nd Afghan War Medal 1878-80; Egyptian Campaigns Medal 1882-89, with clasp for 'El-Teb -Tamaai'; Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902; Order of the Osmanieh, Turkey, 4th Class; Khedive's Egyptian Star 1882-91.

Godfrey Giles was born in India in 1857 and began his military career in the Bombay Staff Corps aged 19. He went on to serve with the 1st Regiment of Sind Horse in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), the Egyptian Campaign of 1882 and the 1st Sudan War (1883-1885). His experiences in the Sudan where he was attached to the 10th (Prince of Wales's Own Royal) Hussars, became the source material for his artistic career after he left the Army in 1884. Giles continued to serve in the Loyal Suffolk Hussars (Imperial Yeomanry), as a 'special artist' during the Boer War (1899-1902), and as a home-service gunner during World War (1914-1918).