Orders, Decorations and Medals

Six: Lance-Corporal L. W. MacFarlane, 3rd Hussars, late 5th Royal Irish Dragoons (R.A.C.) and 6th Airborne Armoured Regiment, who continued his military career in the French Foreign Legion in the 1950s

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (14217058 L. Cpl., R.A.C.); French North Africa Commemorative Medal, clasp, Maroc, the fifth with official but later impressed naming, generally good very fine (6) £600-800

Leonard Waite MacFarlane was born in Glasgow in June 1924 and enlisted in the Royal Armoured Corps in June 1942. He subsequently served in the 5th Royal Irish Dragoons (R.A.C.) from March 1943 to February 1945, and the 6th Airborne Armoured Regiment from April 1945 until March 1946, in which latter month he transferred to the 3rd King’s Own Hussars. Discharged as a Lance-Corporal in Palestine in March 1947, he went on to serve in the French Foreign Legion 1954-59.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including a certified copy attestation paper, dated 24 June 1942; his Record of Service card, dated 31 March 1947 and ‘Release Leave Certificate’, dated 18 May 1947; assorted documents pertinent to his time in the French Foreign Legion, among them his ‘Livret Individuel’ and a Good Service Certificate, in the name of ‘Legionnaire MacFarlane, Leonard’, the ‘2eme Regiment Etranger d’Infantrie’, this dated 15 May 1959; an M.O.D. Army Medal Office forwarding letter for his “late claim” 1939-45 War awards (but excluding the Defence Medal), the same communication noting that his similar claim for the General Service Medal 1918-62, clasp “Palestine 1945-48” was under consideration; together with his French Foreign Legion uniform lanyard and battledress epaulettes.