Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria to include a Fine Collection of Napoleonic Medals

A good post-war civil O.B.E., Great War D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Major R. Radcliffe, Royal Artillery, who was commissioned in the field and added a “mention” to his accolades for subsequent bravery in Salonika - where he was wounded

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (22956 Sjt. R. Ratcliffe, 121/Hvy. Bty. R.G.A.); 1914-15 Star (22956 Sjt. R. Ratcliffe, R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut. R. Ratcliffe; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937, mounted court-style as worn, minor contact wear, very fine or better (8) £1200-1500

O.B.E. London Gazette 9 June 1949:

Major Robert Ratcliffe, D.C.M., J.P., Secretary, Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association of the Counties of Angus and the City of Dundee.

D.C.M. London Gazette 14 January 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry. On one occasion Sergeant Ratcliffe was largely instrumental in getting a gun which had stuck in the mud into action under very heavy shell fire.’

Robert Ratcliffe was born in Inverness-shire in May 1891 and enlisted in the Royal Artillery as a boy recruit in August 1905.

A Sergeant by the outbreak of hostilities, he first went to France with 121 Heavy Battery, R.G.A. in February 1915 where, as cited above, he won the D.C.M. Commissioned in the field as a 2nd Lieutenant in June 1916, he remained actively engaged in France and Flanders until early 1917. In August of the latter year, he was embarked for Salonika, where he was wounded and added a mention in despatches to his accolades (London Gazette 30 January 1919, refers). He was also advanced to Lieutenant in the same period.

Post-war, Ratcliffe served in 11th Heavy Battery, R.G.A. in Gibraltar 1922-23, and on attachment to the 3rd Battalion, Royal West African Frontier Force in Nigeria 1925-29. Advanced to Captain in May of the latter year, he next served as a T.A. Adjutant 1930-35, prior to taking up his final Regular Army appointment in 171 Heavy Battery. R.G.A. in Scotland.

Placed on the Reserve of Officers in June 1936, Ratcliffe was appointed Secretary of the Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association for the County of Angus and the City of Dundee, in which capacity he was awarded the Coronation Medal in 1937 and his O.B.E. in 1949. In the interim, he had been advanced to Major during the 1939-45 War. Otherwise busying himself with the duties of a Justice of the Peace, he died in Stirling in March 1958; sold with a quantity of copied research and two original photographs.