Five: Captain N. Season, Royal Artillery, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his gallantry post-War in the Dutch East Indies, and was subsequently murdered by armed terrorists in Malaya, 9 November 1948

1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S. E. Asia 1945-46, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. N. Season. R.A.) last a somewhat later issue struck on a slightly thinner flan, all lacquered, nearly extremely fine (5) £300-400

M.I.D. London Gazette 26 June 1947:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Netherlands East Indies (prior to 30th November 1946).’

Norman Searson was born in Lincolnshire in 1922 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 24 November 1942, serving during the Second World War in Burma, being promoted Lieutenant on 24 April 1943. He subsequently post-War in the Dutch East Indies, was appointed acting Captain, and was Mentioned in Despatches. Relinquishing his commission on 5 July 1947, he was granted the honorary rank of Captain, and embarked for Singapore on the S.S. Andes to become a rubber planter in Malaya.

Searson was murdered by armed terrorists on 9 November 1948, as reported in the Courier-Mail:
‘A British planter, Mr. Norman Searson, 26, was shot dead on November 9th [1948] when attacked by terrorists armed with Sten guns. Searson, who was armed with a revolver, was killed while inspecting the Rasa estate in the Kuala Kuba district, about 30 miles north of Kuala Lumpur, where he was assistant manager. He was last seen riding a motor cycle unescorted. A search party found his body lying alongside the track. Apparently he had tried to escape into the rubber trees but was shot down from behind.’