Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War M.B.E. group of thirteen awarded to Major Edward William Nesham, Royal West African Frontier Force, late Royal Engineers and Gold Coast Local Forces

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; Victory Medal 1914-19, M.I.D. oakleaf (Major); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (E. W. Nesham); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, these unnamed; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Gold Coast, unnamed; France, Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, with bronze palm; France, Croix de Guerre 1939, with silver star, copy, together with an erased 1914-15 Star and British War Medal, mounted Court style for wear, nearly very fine and better (15) £800-900

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

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M.B.E. London Gazette 30 December 1941

M.I.D. London Gazette 28 January 1916 (Hamilton), 14 December 1917 (Haig), 7 July 1919 (Haig

Croix de Guerre 1914-18 with Palm London Gazette 22 November 1918

Croix de Guerre 1939 not confirmed

Edward William Nesham was born in Holborn, London, on 10 June 1888 and was educated at Torquay High School. By Profession, a Land Surveyor, he served briefly as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd V.B. Devonshire Regiment, 1906-07. Living in Canada, he was an articled pupil in the Dominion Observatory in Ottawa, 1909-13, and was employed by the Canadian Government Department of Interior International Boundary Survey Board of the Dominion Observatory, 1909-14.

He returned to the U.K. upon the outbreak of war and was granted a commission as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, 30 January 1915. He served in Gallipoli and France and was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant, 16 November 1916; Acting Captain, 12 September 1917, and Acting Major, 13 January 1918. For his services he was three times mentioned in despatches and awarded the French Croix de Guerre. A translation of the citation for the latter reads:

‘Temp. Lieut. (acting Major) 73rd Field Company R.E.’ ‘During the period of 22.7.18 to 3.8.18 and in particular during the day of 2 August 1918, he worked incessantly. When the enemy was fighting in retreat under pressure from infantry, he followed their advance, clearing the roads of all obstacles, constructing two bridges over the River Oise. He informed Headquarters about the condition of the roads, provision of water and ammunition dumps in the re-conquered territory

In 1920 he was confirmed in the rank of Major. After returning to Canada, 1920-21, Nesham in 1924, took employment in the Gold Coast as a Surveyor in the Survey Department and remained there until 1936. Whilst living there he served as a Major in the Gold Coast Local Forces. As a Civil Servant of the Survey Dept. he was awarded the Jubilee Medal 1935 (Gold Coast Gazette 9 May 1935).

Nesham moved to Nigeria in 1936 and became Deputy Commissioner of Lands and Surveyor General on 12 May 1937. There he served as a Major in the Lagos Defence Force and was in the European Reserve Force. As Major in the Lagos Defence Force, he was awarded the Coronation Medal 1937 (Nigeria Gazette 12 May 1937), and as Major in the Gold Coast Local Forces was awarded the Efficiency Decoration (Gold Coast) (Gold Coast Gazette 23 April 1938 & Nigeria Gazette 26 May 1938). He resumed full-time military service with the onset of the Second World War. As a Major in the R.W.A.F.F., he was appointed a Lieutenant, General List, Emergency Commission, 3 September 1939. In 1941 as a Captain (Temporary Major), Nesham was appointed an M.B.E. in recognition of distinguished service in the Middle East. In December 1942, as a War Substantive Captain on the General List, he was appointed a War Substantive Captain in the Royal Engineers. After the war he served in Palestine as a civilian, probably on survey work. In later life he lived in Rochester, Kent. Nesham died at home on 22 April 1960

The Efficiency Decoration, by J. M. A. Tamplin, lists a total of 59 Efficiency Decorations (Gold Coast) listed in the Gold Coast Gazette between 1938-56.Sold with original decorated citation document for the French Croix de Guerre; two caps, one bearing the badge of the Lagos Defence Force; a flag of the Gold Coast Surveys, approx. 117 x 61cm. (damaged and fragile), and copied research.