Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.S.O. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel L. E. Becher, Royal Engineers, one of two engineer officers to receive the Union of South Africa 1910 medal for his services as A.D.C. to Lord Methuen, G.O.C. South Africa

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (Capt. & Adjt. L. E. Becher. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. L. E. Becher); Union of South Africa Medal 1910, unnamed as issued, mounted for display, very fine (5) £1400-1600

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

M.I.D. London Gazette 13 November 1916, 7 November 1917 and 16 March 1919.

Lancelot Edward Becher was born on 17 September 1882, and educated at Oundle School and the Royal Indian Engineering College, Coopers Hill. He was made a Fellow of Coopers Hill in 1904 and commissioned into the Royal Engineers in the same year. He served as A.D.C. to Lord Methuen, General Officer Commanding, South Africa, 1908-12, during which period he was engaged in the arrangements for the establishment of the Union of South Africa (Medal). Becher was Traffic Manager at the Royal Arsenal from 1913 to 1915, and served in France 1915-19 as Staff Officer to Chief Engineer, 1st Army; Assistant Engineer-in-Chief and Assistant Director of Light Railways (Secretary of State’s despatch 1915; despatches thrice, D.S.O.).

Sold with two portrait photographs, Government House, Cape Town, forwarding letter for Union of South Africa medal and three original M.I.D. certificates as detailed above.