Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War and Korean War group of seven awarded to Major T. B. Heaton, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, one of the first British servicemen to set foot in Korea with Brigadier Coad
1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Korea 1950-53 (Capt., R.A.O.C.); U.N. Korea; Regular Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (Lieut., R.A.O.C.) contact marks, nearly very fine (7)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals Relating to the Korean War 1950-53.

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Thomas Barron Heaton was born in York 1 March 1912. He served in the ranks and as a W.O. Class 1 for 13 years before he received a commission on 26 February 1944. Promoted Captain in December 1949 he was one of the advance party of 12 officers and 20 men who landed at Pusan by plane on 27 August 1950. Led by Brigadier B. A. Coad, they were accompanied by Air Vice-Marshal C. A. Bouchier, Britain’s military liaison officer with General Douglas MacArthur, the Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations forces in Korea. Two days later the troops of 27 Brigade, consisting of the 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the 1st Middlesex, arrived at Pusan from Hong Kong. Promoted to Major in June 1955, he retired in March 1962. Sold with several original news cuttings which confirm Heaton’s presence with the advance party.