Auction Catalogue

25 & 26 June 2014

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 1126

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26 June 2014

Hammer Price:
£2,700

A Second World War Italy operations M.B.E., Fall of France 1940 M.C. group of seven awarded to Major G. D. S. Black, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, with its Royal Mint case of issue; Military Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1940’ and privately inscribed, ‘G. D. S. Black, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, 7.8.40’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, generally very fine or better (7) £1200-1500

M.B.E. London Gazette 28 June 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘Major G. D. S. Black has been Brigade Major of this Brigade since 2 June 1944 and took over after the battle of Cassino. Since then the Brigade has carried out many different and difficult operations, culminating in the present Greek episode. During these operations Major Black’s work was of the highest order. Never once in those many difficult moves was there ever an error, never once, in or out of battle was the organisation of the Brigade found to be lacking. It was largely due to his energy, his cheerfulness, his capacity for work, all combining in brilliant staff work, that the Brigade achieved the success it did.’

M.C.
London Gazette 11 July 1940. The original recommendation states:

‘2nd Lieutenant G. D. S. Black commanded the Carrier Platoon throughout many actions on the withdrawal. On many occasions both on the River Escaut and at La Bassee he led his platoon on recce. and gained valuable information. On many occasions he came under severe fire not only from the enemy but from our own troops which never deflected him from carrying out his tasks.’

Gordon Douglas Stuart Black, who was from Castlebar, was serving in the 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, at the time of the above cited deeds during the withdrawal to Dunkirk - less than 100 men from his battalion eventually made it back to England. And his subsequent award of the M.B.E. was in respect of his services in 12 Infantry Brigade.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, comprising Buckingham Palace M.C. forwarding letter, dated 24 September 1946, congratulatory letters for his M.C. and M.B.E., both addressed to his parents, so, too, a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore, C.B.E., M.P., regretting news of the recipient having been wounded in the Middle East, this dated 13 April 1943; a wartime portrait photograph and two unit histories, the latter inscribed by the recipient.