Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Brigadier R. L. Withington, Royal Engineers

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘R.L.W., Yser Canal, July 6th 1915’; 1914 Star (2 Lieut., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.), mounted as worn, very fine (4) £850-950

M.C. London Gazette 25 August 1915. ‘Lieutenant, 9th Field Company, Royal Engineers’. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and ability during operations south of Pilkem between 6th and 8th July, 1915, when he assisted in bringing an 18-pounder gun across the Yser Canal under fire, and getting it into position in a gun pit which he had dug in the fire trenches within 60 yards of the enemy’s sap. When the enemy’s sap was blown in he superintended the joining up of our sap with that of the enemy under heavy and close fire’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916.

Richard Leigh Withington was born on 2 August 1893, the son of Edmund and Louisa Withington, of Guildford, Surrey. Educated at Boxgrove Preparatory School, Guildford and Uppingham (1908-11). Commissioned into the Royal Engineers on 1 April 1914, he served in the Great War, in France/Flanders, 18 November 1914-16 November 1915 and 1 September 1916-17 August 1918. For his services he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Cross. After the war he attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and Cambridge University. Continuing his military service in the interwar years, he became Officer commanding of the 12th Field Company R.E. at Aldershot and in 1936 became Commander of the Royal Engineers at Hong Kong. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1937 and to Colonel in 1940. In France at the begining of the Second World War, he made his escape to England from St. Malo on 17 June 1940 and was later the Chief Engineer of 11 Corps. After service at H.Q. A.A. Command, Stanmore as Engineer Advisor and a period at the War Office, in September 1945 he was appointed Chief Engineer, East Africa Command. The following year he returned to England and on 15 July 1946 he retired with the rank of Brigadier. In August 1946 he was appointed Bursar of Kelly College, Tavistock, Devon, a position he held until 1955. Brigadier Withington died suddenly whilst playing golf on 10 January 1969.

Sold with portrait photograph of the recipient; a photograph album and photographs (some loose); photocopied extracts from a family diary listing family and military matters; a copied summary of service and other research; together with a General Strike issue of the Daily Telegraph, dated 10 may 1926.