A Post War O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant Colonel J. V. Hawkins, York and Lancaster Regiment

The Most Excellent Order of The British Empire, O.B.E., Military, type 2; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals; General Service 1918-62, E.II.R., 2 clasps, Malaya, Malay Peninsula, (Lt. Col., Y. & L.); Coronation 1953, mounted court style as worn, good very fine or better (8) £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Richard Schweder Collection of Medals for Campaigns in Malaysia.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 2 June 1962. The original recommendation states: ‘During the last two years Lt. Col J. V. Hawkins, as ACMG, Headquarters Western Command, has rendered outstanding service not only to the command but to the Army as a whole. In Particular he has been concerned with the birth of the new Civilian Works Organisation, which was introduced into Western Command about a year before it was adopted throughout the rest of the army. The success of this new organisation was largely due to the personnel efforts of Lt. Col. J. V. HAWKINS during the preliminary period.

He worked for very long hours continuously, far beyond those which would normally be expected in this appointment, to ensure the success of the organisation and his analysis and presentation of the experienced gained in Western Command was a major factor in the adoption of the organisation worldwide. At the same time Lt. Col J. V. HAWKINS worked successfully to ensure that the change over to the new system was affected without dislocation to the Command building programme, in itself an outstanding performance.

Lt. Col J. V. HAWKINS has consistently set the interest of the service before his own and has set an inspiring example to all those associated with him. His contribution to the wellbeing of the Army during the last two years has been of the very highest order which has only been achieved by a superlative effort on his part.’

Lieutenant Colonel John Vivian Hawkins, O.B.E. was born in December 1914, being commissioned into the York and Lancaster Regiment in August 1934 in the rank of Second Lieutenant. By the time of the Second World War he had achieved the rank of Captain and was employed on various instructional duties as well as stints as Brigade Major with 71st and 301st Indian Brigades. Although the York and Lancaster Regiment did not serve in Malaya as a unit, Hawkins received a posting there as GSO1 (Trg) FARELF, with his medal being named to his parent regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins commanded the 1st Battalion from 1957-58 and died in 1978.