Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The mounted group of eleven miniature dress medals attributed to Major-General J. F. Combe, 11th Hussars

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, gilt base metal and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., 1st issue, with Second Award Bar, gilt base metal and enamel, lacking top bar; 1914- Star, with clasp; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, mounted court style for display, good very fine and better (11) £160-200

John Frederick Boyce Combe was born in 1895. He joined the 11th Hussars from the Royal Military College in 1914. Promoted to Lieutenant in 1915; Captain 1921; Major 1931 and Lieutenant-Colonel in 1938. Was wounded twice in the Great War - at Potijze, 11 May 1915 and again at Vadencourt, 19 February 1918. In the Second World War he served in North Africa in command of the 11th Hussars who acted as reconnaissance troops for the Western Desert Force and later the 7th Armoured Division. Awarded the D.S.O. and Bar in 1941 for his service in that theatre of war. He was promoted Brigadier-General in 1941 but misfortune struck when he was taken prisoner German forward troops, together along with Generals O’Connor and Neame. Combe was held in Italy for nearly three years, finally escaping soon after the Allied landings in Italy. In under a year he was again in Italy commanding the 2nd Armoured Brigade and in 1946/47 commanded the 78th and 46th Divisions. Awarded the C.B. in 1947. Before retiring in 1947 he was Deputy Commander of the British Forces in Austria. He died on 12 July 1967. With copied research and copied photographs.