Orders, Decorations and Medals

An ‘S.O.E.’ M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Colonel J. A. S. Fearfield, Royal Signals, a member of Force 136 in India and Burma

The Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) 2nd type; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, S.E. Asia 1945-46, Malaya (Major, R. Sigs.); U.N. Korea, light contact marks, therefore nearly very fine (7) £180-220

M.B.E. London Gazette 25 September 1947: ‘For gallant and distinguished services in the Field prior to September 1945.’ Sold with copies of War Office Records which show that this was one of six belated awards to members of Force 136 proposed by Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Browning, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., of which the original recommendations and citations had apparently been lost in transmission from the Far East. Whilst these belated recommendations were submitted with citations, including a D.S.O. to Colonel Lindsay of the Irish Guards, it seems that these too have since gone missing! Sold with full service details which confirm that Fearfield was serving with the Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.) India & Burma, from 1 may 1942 until 15 June 1946, and that he embarked for India on 18 June 1942. After the War he served in command of various Signals units in Java and Singapore.