A former 'Musician's' Great War  and post-war Long Service medal group of 4: Sergeant Edward Albert Olley, 2nd Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment 

- 1914-15 Star (7766 L.Cpl E.A. Olley. Glouc:R.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (7766 Sjt. E.A. Olley. Glouc.R.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (7766 Sjt. E.A. Olley. Glouc.R.)
- Army LS&GC Medal. GV 1st type (5172065 Sjt. E.A. Olley. Glouc.R.)

Medals Verification: British Army medal rolls for LS&GC medals awarded post-1918 are not accessible in the public domain as of 2026. Sergeant Edward Albert Olley's entitlement to all the Great War medals is verified per the below referenced medal rolls:

- 1914-15 Star: WO 329/2705. Disembarked theatre of war 'France' 19 December 1914
- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 239/1147. Shown served with 2nd Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
- Interallied Victory Medal: WO 239/1147. Shown served with 2nd Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
- LS&GC Medal: Awarded for 18 years unblemished 'Adult' service.  Medal awarded circa 1925

Edward Albert Olley, son of William Edward Henry Olley (a Cabinet Maker) & Sarah Elizabeth Olley (nee Humphreys) was a native of Islington, London, England, where he was born on, 5 August 1889. At the time of his baptism on, 31 August 1889, baby Edward was living with his parents at Queens Cottages, Popham Street, Islington, London (Baptism records refer)

In spite of his recorded given forenames, Edward was often subsequently referred to, and or, used his given forenames in reverse order, i.e. Albert Edward, or Albert! 

Edward, enlisted in the British Army on 23/24 September 1904, at which time he was just 15 years of age - and presumably a boy entrant to be trained as a Musician / Bandsman. He was posted to the Gloucestershire Regiment (the following comrades of Edward Olley, No. 7764 Albert Henry Stokes attested on 23 September 1904 while No. 7769 John Wollen, attested a day later on 24/09/1904.) After completion of his basic training, Edward was posted to the 2nd Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment. At the time of the compilation of the National Census for England & Wales in 1911, Edward is recorded on overseas service in Malta where he was stationed while serving with 2nd Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, His entry in the 1911 Census describes as having been a 'Musician' by trade (civilian) prior to his joining the British Army. In light of his age and prior civilian 'Trade' it is most likely that Edward had enlisted as a 'Boy' enlistment and his eligibility for the LS&GC medal would have started after his service terms changed to 'Adult' service on turning 18 year of age, in 1907 - his LSGC being awarded to him in 1925!

Fortunate to have survived the killing-grounds of the Great War, post-war Edward returned to the United Kingdom where he continued his military career. During the third quarter of 1919, Edward is recorded to have married Emily Frances Wisker, the marriage being recorded at Truro, Cornwall, England. At the time of the compilation of the 1921 National Census for England & Wales, he is recorded serving with the Gloucestershire Regiment, and holding the rank of Sergeant while stationed at Malplaquet Barracks, Aldershot, Hampshire, England.  In 1925 (in which year he completed his 18 years 'Adult' service 'With the Colours'), he would have been awarded his Army long Service and Good Conduct Medal - by which time Edward was had been holding one of the new unique 'Army Numbers' from the block 5172001- 5239000 that had been issued to the Gloucestershire Regiment in 1920, and which shows that Edward was - in 1920 - 65th most senior 'Other Rank' of the Gloucestershire Regiment

Edward Albert Olley of 26 Weighton Road, Harrow Weald, Middlesex is recorded to have died at Redhill Hospital Edgeware Middlesex, England, on 20 August 1931. At death his estate was valued at £992.6s, and he was succeeded by his widow Emily Frances Olley

Condition: The silver medals with dark patina the medals mostly about GVF

Code: 26031