1918 Dated British Officers Compass Belonging to Major A F Purvis Scots Guards, Awarded the Military Cross for Service with the Guards Machine Gun Regiment and Who Continued to Serve Throughout WW2, a standard Verners pattern officers blackened brass compass with Swiss makers details to the reverse and 1918 date. Housed in brown leather 1917 dated case with the front being impressed ‘MAJOR A. F. PURVIS SCOTS GUARDS’. Remains in good condition overall. Major Arthur Frederick Purvis was born on 8th March 1890 in Hawaii, USA. He initially gained a commission in 1914 into the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders. He gained promotions throughout the first world war, serving with the Scots Guards and then attached to the Guards Machine Gun Regiment, it was with this regiment that in 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross. In September 1919, he was posted to South Russia as part of Operation Archangel, being awarded the Russian Order of St Anne 3rd Class. He had previous knowledge of Russia and was fluent in multiple languages which helped him qualify as an interpreter. In 1933 he was posted to New Zealand where he became military secretary to the governor general and commander in chief. In September 1939, he was posted to France with the B.E.F, being returned to the UK on the 1st June 1940 where he was struck off the list of the B.E.F. He served in various administration roles with the Home Forces until August 1944 where he once again was sent overseas to the campaign in North West Europe. Late Gordon Anderson collection