Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Second World War ‘Malaya’ C.B.E., Great War D.S.O. group of nine awarded to Brigadier C. H. Stringer, Royal Army Medical Corps, a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, complete with top bar, slight enamel damage to wreath; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.); India General Service 1908-36, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1921-24 (Major, R.A.M.C.); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals, good very fine and better except where stated (9) £1400-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Medical Services formed by Colonel D.G.B. Riddick.

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C.B.E. London Gazette 1 August 1946. ‘... in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya in 1942’.

D.S.O. London Gazette 26 July 1918. ‘Capt. (Acting Lieutenant-Colonel), Royal Army Medical Corps’. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of an advanced dressing station. Owing to the whole force retiring, the collection and evacuation of large numbers of wounded, who were lying in thick woods, was a task of extreme difficulty in view of the rapid advance of the enemy. Although subjected to heavy fire, he remained behind till the enemy were almost up to his position, and by skilful organisation he succeeded in evacuating practically all the wounded. His magnificent courage and devotion saved many wounded from falling into the enemy’s hands’.

O.B.E. London Gazette 13 March 1925.

M.I.D. London Gazette 30 December 1918, 30 May 1924, 13 March 1925.

Charles Herbert Stringer was born in Armagh on 10 April 1886. He qualified as a L.R.C.P. & S.I. and L.M., 1909 and D.P.H. London, 1921. Entering the R.A.M.C. as a Lieutenant in July 1910 he was promoted to Captain in January 1914. He served in Jamaica, 1912-15 and then in France/Flanders, 1916-19, where he held the rank of Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, December 1917-April 1919 and served as C.O. of the 6th Cavalry Field Ambulance, 1917-19. For his brave conduct he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.S.O. Promoted to Major in July 1922, he served in the B.A.O.R., 1921 and India, 1921-26. For his services in Waziristan, 1922-24, he was twice mentioned in despatches and awarded the O.B.E. He was appointed Assistant Director of Hygiene and Pathology, H.Q. Eastern Command, 1926. Posted to Egypt, 1931-35, he was A.D.H. H.Q. B.T.E., 1930-31, and awarded the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 July 1933, was promoted to that rank in May 1934. He was then employed as A.D.H. H.Q. Southern Command, 1935-38. Posted to Malaya and the Far East, 1938-45, he was promoted to Colonel in May 1938 and held the ranks of Acting Brigadier from November 1940 and Temporary Brigadier from May 1941. On the peninsula he was employed at H.Q. Malaya Command as A.D.M.S., 1938-41 and then D.D.M.S. from 1941 onwards. Brigadier Stringer was taken prisoner by the Japanese in 1942 and remained in captivity to the end of the war. For his distinguished services in Malaya, he was awarded the C.B.E. Stringer was placed on Retired Pay with the honorary rank of Brigadier on 23 May 1947. He died at Westminster, Middlesex on 7 May 1961. Stringer is mentioned several times in Singapore - Too little, too late, by Ivan Simson. Sold with some copied research.