Auction Catalogue

9 December 1999

Starting at 12:00 PM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Regus Conference Centre  12 St James Square  London  SW1Y 4RB

Lot

№ 893

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9 December 1999

Hammer Price:
£320

A scarce ‘British Guiana’ B.E.M. awarded to Corporal Brian Colley, 1st Battalion, Devon and Dorset Regiment

British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (19045792 Cpl. Brian Colley, D&D.) in case of issue, good very fine £200-250

Sold with details from the Devon and Dorset Regimental Journal which states that Corporal Colley ‘received his award when in command of a section of the Reconnaissance Platoon, particularly for independent patrol actions in the Black Bush Polder area in October 1964.’

The medal is accompanied by two articles by officer’s of the regiment describing the operations in British Guiana during 1964. The following is an extract from that written by the commanding officer, Lt-Col. J. P. Randle, O.B.E., M.C.:

‘In October occurred the Black Bush Polder incident, which achieved minor notoriety in the Btitish Press. A patrol of the Recce Platoon under Cpl. Colley B.E.M., was searching a house for weapons, following a request for assistance from the Police. Three suspects, all of which had been drinking Bush Rum were lined up against a wall, covered by a sentry. One suspect, despite three clear warnings by the sentry, tried to charge him and was very properly shot, the bullet passing through him and wounding a second suspect. The first man died of his wounds and a coroners inquest was held. Much political capital was made out of this incident by the PPP and considerable pressure on witnesses, etc., was brought to bear, when the inquest was held. Inquests in British Guiana are conducted more like a criminal trial than an objective investigation. The sentry, however, was represented by a Guianese barrister, of great skill and even greater whisky drinking capabilities, who secured a 3-2 verdict in our favour from the five-man jury.’