Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:


A civil M.B.E. and Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant Roy Adamson Moir, Royal Engineers

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt, in Royal Mint case of issue; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed, in case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. R. A. Moir) these in card boxes of issue; together with a mounted group of five miniature dress medals (as above, plus an M.I.D. emblem and a Defence Medal), with a further miniature O.B.E. 2nd type, civil, in a case and a miniature M.C., G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘W.M.N.’, in a case


The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1917, unnamed, in Garrard, London case of issue, attributed to Alexander Moir, Esq, full-size medals extremely fine (lot) £800-1000

Medals to son and father.

Roy Adamson Moir was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 18 March 1898, the son of Alexander Moir and Beatrice Smith Moir, nee Speight. He received a commission as Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers on 26 April 1917. Serving in France and Flanders, 22 June 1917-11 November 1918, he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 23 December 1918) and was awarded the M.C. London Gazette (1 February 1919) when serving with No. 4 Section, 35th Divisional Signal Co. R.E. - attached to H.Q. of the 106th Infantry Brigade. His citation reads:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and consistently good work during operations at Zandvoorde and Tenbrielen, S.W. of Ypres, September 28th to October 3rd. The organisation of the Signal Service of his Brigade enabled Brigade Headquarters to keep in touch throughout the operations, with practically no interruption. In addition he enabled another Brigade to maintain touch and was of assistance to the R.A. and neighbouring formations. He was exposed on occasions to severe shell fire and throughout maintained a clear head and complete composure. The result of his arrangements, grasp of the situation as it developed, and general coolness were of great value to his brigade during several days hard fighting.’

Royal Adamson Moir married Winifred Mary Norris at Wandsworth Common on 26 June 1926. He was awarded the O.B.E. (Civil) in the 1954 New Years Honours List; at the time he was living at ‘Cherry Trees, Bedford Road, Moor Park, Northwood, Middlesex’.

With commission document, citation, several certificates, Buckingham Palace admittance cards re. the award of the M.C. and O.B.E.; letter re the award of the O.B.E.; driving licence; a ‘tortoise-shell’ cigarette case; sundry badges, buttons, riband bars and cloth insignia; baptismal card of his son - Gordon Dallas Moir, born in 1928; wallet, newspaper clipping re his burial.

Alexander Moir, father of the above, was born in Ratties, Aberdeenshire, on 1 January 1859, the son of James Moir, a Grain Miller, and Elizabeth Ross. At the time of birth of his son, Roy Adamson in 1898, Alexander Moir was employed as a Telegraph Engineer. Awarded the O.B.E. (Civil) in January 1918. Latterly living at 24 Herongate Avenue, Wandsworth Common, he died on 8 July 1944.

With birth certificate; O.B.E. award document; grant of right of burial re a grave at Headingley and Burley Cemetery, near Leeds; Wandsworth Borough Council Deed of Grave; death certificate; will, with sundry other family papers and items including a slide-rule.