Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War North-West Europe operations M.B.E. group of six attributed to Lieutenant-Colonel P. A. Treadaway, Royal Engineers

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; Army Emergency Reserve Decoration, E.II.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1962’, together with a set of related dress miniature medals (excluding the A.E.R. Decoration), extremely fine (11) £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards for the 1939-45 War.

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M.B.E. London Gazette 21 June 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘Major Treadaway has undertaken the detailed planning and execution of all Second Army road movements throughout the campaign. The problems he has had to face, particularly during the last three winter months, under very bad weather conditions, would have daunted many, but this officer, by his untiring efforts, has surmounted all obstacles and has been very largely responsible for the successful major regroupings of formations in the Second Army area. He has at all times shown great powers of concentration in matter of detail and his energy has never flagged in spite of the exceptionally long hours and many nights without sleep. Throughout he has set the highest example to those with whom he has worked and has shown great devotion to duty.’

Peter Anthony Treadaway was attached to Headquarters, 2nd Army at the time of the above cited deeds. According to his own wartime career summary - copy included - he crossed to Normandy in June 1944, where he was placed in charge of the co-ordination of road traffic layout within the entire British bridgehead, consisting ultimately of 115,000 vehicles in an area approximately 20 miles by 10. So, too, of similar work during the advance through Holland, Belgium and Germany. In June 1945 he was appointed a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel and Deputy Controller of Road and Rail Movements in Hannover, while the Army List of 1962 confirms his subsequent appointment as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the A.E.R’s Movement Control Section; sold with copied documentation only, including the above career summary and a letter of recommendation from his Brigadier in the Control Commission for Germany, dated 20 July 1946.