Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Heneage Stafford, Fiji Defence Force, late Machine Gun Corps and King Edward’s Horse, latterly Chief of Staff, Fiji Military Forces

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.); Defence and War Medals; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953, these unnamed; Efficiency Decoration, G.V.R., Fiji, reverse inscribed, ‘Mjr. A. H. Stafford’, mounted as worn; together with National Rifle Association Medal, obverse, an archer and a rifleman (Capt. A. H. Stafford, Fiji Defence Force 1934) 48mm., silver, good very fine, Efficiency Decoration rare (9) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 13 June 1946; Fiji Royal Gazette 21 June 1946

Arthur Heneage Stafford was born on 23 November 1895, and was educated at Chatham House School, Ramsgate. During the Great War he served in the Army. As an Officer Cadet, he was granted a commission in the Special Reserve of Officers as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd King Edward’s Horse, 21 December 1916. He was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) as a 2nd Lieutenant on 14 January 1918; he was promoted Lieutenant, King Edward’s Horse, 21 June 1918. He entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 23 April 1918. He resigned his commission on 1 April 1920 and retained the rank of Lieutenant

Stafford then spent the next 30 years in Fiji, being ‘temporarily and provisionally and subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Adjutant, Fiji Defence Force, with effect from 1st February 1924’ (Fiji Royal Gazette 1 February 1924). From the same date he was appointed Secretary of the Fiji War Pensions Board. Ranked as a Captain, he was confirmed as Adjutant in June the same year. Captain Stafford was appointed an Honorary A.D.C. to His Excellency Administering the Government on 19 November 1932; and again on 11 May 1934 when he was appointed an Honorary A.D.C. to His Excellency the Governor. As a Major, Stafford was awarded the Efficiency Decoration (Fiji), published in the Fiji Royal Gazette of 30 April 1937. In the same year he was awarded the Coronation Medal (Fiji Royal Gazette 12 May 1937). During the Second World War he was actively engaged with the Fiji Defence Forces. On 6 November 1940 he was appointed Second in Command of the 2nd Battalion Fiji Defence Force and early in 1941 he was appointed temporarily Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, and he was also Commandant of the Natabua Training Camp. In June 1941 he was transferred to the 1st Battalion as Second in Command. In 1942 he became Staff Officer, Administrative H.Q., and later on in August 1942 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed C.O. of the 2nd (T) Battalion. From 1 June 1943 he commanded the Base Training Depot and in October 1944 he was appointed to Administrative H.Q. as Senior Staff Officer. For his military services during the war he was awarded the O.B.E. After the War he was Acting Commandant of the Fiji Military Forces and later Chief of Staff. In 1953 he was awarded the Coronation Medal (Fiji Royal Gazette 2 June 1953). Lieutenant-Colonel Stafford, O.B.E., E.D., was placed on the Retired List on 20 November 1954

The Efficiency Decoration, by J. M. A. Tamplin, lists a total of 25 Efficiency Decorations (Fiji) listed in the Fiji Royal Gazette between 1936-74. Sold with copied photograph and copied research, including extracts from The History of the Fiji Military Forces 1939-1945 which have reference to Stafford.