Orders, Decorations and Medals

A military O.B.E. group of four awarded to Major Walter Scott Blackett, Ceylon Mounted Rifles

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1927; British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt., I.A.R.O.); Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, G.V.R., reverse engraved, ‘Capt. & Quarter Master Walter Scott Blackett, Ceylon Mounted Rifles’, hallmarks for London 1918 (?), scratches to reverse, with top bar; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service, E.VII.R. (Quarter Master) engraved naming, mounted court style for wear, very fine (4) £320-360

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 1 January 1930.

Walter Scott Blackett lived for much of his life in Ceylon. He was a planter and proprietor of the Jak Tree Hill Estate at Gampola. Blackett was also a keen member of Volunteers and served for many years with the Ceylon Mounted Rifles. In 1909 when he was Quarter Master with 20 years service, he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal (Ceylon Government Gazette 13 August 1909). On 9 June 1910 he was appointed Quartermaster of the Ceylon Mounted Rifles with the rank of Honorary Lieutenant. During the Great War, Blackett was granted a commission in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers and attained the rank of Captain. He was also promoted Honorary Captain in the Ceylon Mounted Rifles. He transferred to the Reserve of the Ceylon Mounted Rifles in March 1918. In the rank of Honorary Captain and Quartermaster he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration (Ceylon Government Gazette 1 November 1918). In 1925, Blackett, then an Honorary Major, transferred from the Reserve and was again appointed Quartermaster. He ceased to be Quartermaster in 1930, the same year he was awarded the O.B.E. for his volunteer services. Sold with copied research.