Orders, Decorations and Medals

A unique New Zealand M.B.E. and Long Service group of nine awarded to Captain and Quartermaster A. Mathieson, New Zealand Permanent Staff, late Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Modder River, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (6533 Corl., A. & S. Highrs.), correction to service number; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (6533 Corpl., A. & S. Highrs.); War Medal 1939-45, unnamed; New Zealand Service Medal 1939-45, unnamed; Jubilee 1935, unnamed; New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal (W.O.1, N.Z.P.S.); Army L.S.& G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, New Zealand (W.O.1, N.Z.P.S.); New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, ‘Crowned Head’ (W.O.1, N.Z.P.S.), the group unmounted, some with edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine and better (9) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Extensive Collection of Medals for Long and Meritorious Service.

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Ex Matthew Taylor Collection, Christies November 1990.

M.B.E. New Zealand Gazette 10 June 1943. ‘Captain and Quartermaster Archibald Mathieson, New Zealand Permanent Staff, of Timaru’.

Archibald Mathieson was born on 7 June 1881 at Kaysmuir Duns in the Parish of Duns, Berwickshire. He was the son of John William Mathieson, a Journeyman Mason born in Dumfries, and Margaret nee Dunholm, born in Coldingham, Berwickshire. A Draper by occupation, he joined the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers at the age of 15 years, and three years later on 4 May 1898 he was attested for the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders. On 27 October 1899 he was posted to active service in South Africa and took part in the battles at Modder River, Paardeberg, and Dreifontein. From South Africa (in 1902) he was posted to India for the next 4 years 8 months but his records do not give details of that service, except for receiving a bounty for the extension of his services to complete 12 years with the Colours. He was promoted to Corporal on 10 February 1906. He was posted back to South Africa on 19 December 1906. He was permitted to extend his service to complete 21 years on 1 September 1909 and was promoted to Lance-Sergeant on the same day. He returned to England on 27 January 1910 and took his discharge on 25 November 1910 after 12 years 206 days service.

His parents had migrated to New Zealand c.1905 and he arrived to join them in 1911 and apparently took up farming for a short while in Timaru. During the First World War he served with the New Zealand Temporary Staff on 1 September 1915-24 May 1920 but was unable to be passed fit for active service due to bouts of asthma. He remained, however, at Trentham and Featherstone Camps, training personnel in musketry skills for the Expeditionary Force, Archibald joined the New Zealand Permanent Force on 20 July 1920. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant Instructor on 25 May 1923, to WO 2 on 25 May 1926, and Warrant Officer in July 1929.

Mathieson was recommended for the New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal in September 1931, receiving it on 20 July 1932 in Christchurch. He was recommended for the award of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 31 January 1934, which was approved on 20 February, and received it on 11 June 1934. On 6 May 1935 he received the Silver Jubilee Medal for the 25th Anniversary of the reign of King George V. In June 1940, after nearly 11 years as W.O. 1, he was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant and Quartermaster. Both the Award Notice and Defence Headquarter List for his New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal are annotated ‘now Lieutenant and Quartermaster’. This award was approved on 4 July 1941 and he received a piece of the ribbon issued on 21 September 1941 but it was almost 20 months before the medal was issued on 23 February 1943.

Captain and Quartermaster Archibald Mathieson was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) in the King's Birthday Honours List of 1943. He was at that time holding a clerical and administrative appointment in the Permanent Staff at Timaru. He was discharged in Timaru as a consequence of reaching the age of retirement on 14 August 1946, and was posted to the Retired List on the same day. He retired to his home at 15 Lough Street, Timaru and died there soon after on 5 September 1947 in his 67th year. Sold with a quantity of copied research.