Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare inter-war B.E.M. group of seven awarded to Warrant Officer 1st Class W. T. Puplett, Royal Tank Corps, who ranked Lawrence of Arabia among his family friends

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.V.R. (7868001 S.S. Instr. W. T. Puplett, R. Tank Corps); British War and Victory Medals (40083 Pte. W. T. Puplett, Tank Corps); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., Regular Army (7868001 W.O. Cl. II W. T. Puplett, R. Tank C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (7868001 W.O. Cl. I W. T. Puplett, R.T.C.), mounted as worn, the second and third heavily polished, fair, the remainder nearly very fine or better (7) £2000-2500

B.E.M. London Gazette 4 June 1934.

Walter Thomas Puplett was awarded his B.E.M. while serving as a Staff Sergeant Instructor at the Tank Driving and Maintenance School. A founding member of the Tank Corps, who probably went into action at Cambrai in November 1917, he ranked Lawrence of Arabia among his family friends, the latter having served with him as Private T. E. Shaw in the period 1923-25 (his daughter Eileen Elmy’s obituary refers - copy included). His service number ‘7868001’ was the very first number in the block issued to the Tank Corps when those still serving in the army were re-numbered in 1920.