A scarce Great War M.C. group of six awarded to Captain W. A. Ward [C.M.G.], Machine Gun Corps and Lancashire Fusiliers, late London Regiment, who went on to serve with the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force during the Second War, and was interned by the Japanese at Singapore, 1942-45. A member of the Malayan Civil Service, Ward had previously been employed as the Secretary to the Resident at Selangor, and as Under-Secretary for the Straits Settlements. He subsequently served as Resident Commissioner for Selangor, 1946-48, and as Commissioner for Malaya in the United Kingdom, 1948-53, the latter encompassing the Emergency period in Malaya

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse engraved ‘Capt. W. A. Ward 60th M.G. Battn. Palestine 1917-19’; 1914-15 Star (1555 Pte. W. A. Ward. 15 - Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. W. A. Ward.); Coronation 1953; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Malaya, with Second and Third Award Bars (Sgt. W. A. Ward. M.C., F.M.S.V.F.) mounted as originally worn, generally very fine (6) £2000-3000

C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1948, Colonial Administrative Service, Resident Commissioner, Selangor, Malayan Union.

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

Wilfrid Arthur Ward was born in May 1892, and was educated at Christ’s Hospital School. He served during the Great War with the 1/15th (County of London) Battalion (Prince of Wale’s Own Civil Service Rifles), London Regiment in the French theatre of war from 17 March 1915. Ward was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, Special Reserve, 6 May 1915. He advanced to Captain in 1917, and was attached to the 60th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, with whom he served in Salonika and Palestine.

After the Great War Ward was appointed a Cadet in the Malayan Civil Service. He resided in Tapah, Perak from 1920, and served in various District posts in the Federated Malay States, Kedah and Kelantan. Ward was appointed Secretary to the Resident at Selangor in 1936, and as Under-Secretary for the Straits Settlements in 1941. He served as a Sergeant in the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force, and was interned by the Japanese in Singapore, 1942-45.

Ward returned to England from Singapore after internment in October 1945. His stay was short lived, as Ward served as Resident Commissioner, Selangor, 1946-48. He then served as Commissioner for Malaya in the UK, 1948-53. The following was written to him upon his retirement in 1953:

‘I should like to let you know how much we in Malaya have appreciated your services as the representative of the Federation in the United Kingdom.

In spite of the Emergency, the last five years during which you have been at Malaya House, first as Agent and latterly as Commissioner, have seen the steady advance of Malaya in many fields, and with this advance there has been a corresponding growth in the importance and influence of her Government’s representative. We are most grateful for the manner in which you have carried out this task.

During this period the new venture of Malaya Hall has been successfully launched and I should like to thank you for the work which you have done as Chairman of the Board of Governors, and for the very valuable work which your wife has done in furnishing it and in making it the success that it is.’

In later life War resided at Beckleys, West Hayes, Lymington, Hampshire. He died in May 1981.

Sold with the following original items and documentation: riband bar, including C.M.G.; six letters addressed to recipient written on the occasion of his retirement, including two from Malcolm MacDonald, the Commissioner-General for the UK in South-East Asia; five photographs, four of which show the recipient during his service in Malaya.