Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Burma operations O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel C. H. K. Willans, Royal Army Service Corps, late Royal Artillery and Royal Indian Army Service Corps

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, North West Frontier 1930-31, Mohmand 1933 (2 Lieut. C. H. K. Willans, R.A.); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. C. H. K. Willans, R.I.A.S.C.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R., M.I.D. oak leaf (Major C. H. K. Willans, R.A.S.C.), together with a set of his original ribands, generally good very fine (7) £500-600

O.B.E. London Gazette 17 January 1946.

Charles Harte Keatinge Willans, who was born in December 1907, was originally commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in September 1927, in which capacity he served in the North-West Frontier operations of 1930-31, gaining advancement to Lieutenant in September of the former year and secondment to the Indian Army Service Corps in January of the latter year. Having then been present in the Mohmand operations of 1933, he was advanced to Captain in September 1936, the same year in which he participated in further operations on the North-West Frontier. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 18 February 1938, refers).

Having then attended Staff College and been advanced to Major, he was appointed a Staff Officer in November 1940 and saw further action with the R.I.A.S.C. in Burma 1944-45 (O.B.E.). Willans reverted to the Royal Army Service Corps after Indian Independence and was awarded a second “mention” for his part in the Malayan Emergency (London Gazette 30 October 1953, refers). Subsequently placed on the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, he ceased to belong to the Reserve in December 1962, when he was granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.