Orders, Decorations and Medals

A C.B.E. group of six awarded to Major R. J. Samuel, Royal Engineers, later Deputy Chief Engineer, Roads Department, Ministry of Transport

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. R. J. Samuel, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. R. J. Samuel); Defence Medal; Coronation 1953, the last five mounted as worn, extremely fine (6) £300-350

M.I.D. London Gazette 4 July 1919 (Haig’s Dispatch of 16 March 1919).

C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1951: Deputy Chief Engineer, Roads Department, Ministry of Transport.

Reginald John Samuel was born on 11 February 1888, and educated at King Edward VI School, Bury St Edmunds, and at University College, London, where he obtained a B.Sc. (Eng.) degree. In the two years before the outbreak of the War he was engaged on general municipal works as an engineering assistant with the Borough of Hackney in London, engaged on road improvement schemes. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 23 August 1915 and was promoted to Captain on 1 January 1919. After the war he joined the Cornwall County Council for a short period before he was appointed assistant engineer on the permanent staff of the Ministry of Transport, becoming Engineering Inspector of the London Division, 1924-36. From 1937 he served continuously at Ministry Headquarters until 1953, when he was retired from the post of Deputy Chief Engineer. He died on 12 February 1960. Sold with some further details.