Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Burma operations M.B.E. group of six awarded to Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel M. G. Durant, Royal Engineers, onetime attached 3rd Gurkha Rifles and Royal Indian Engineers, who was thrice mentioned in despatches: for operations with 3rd Gurkha Rifles in Iraq, Syria and Persia in 1942, likewise the Royal Indian Engineers in Burma in 1945 and finally as a Major in the Royal Engineers in Malaya in 1953-54

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military Division) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R., M.I.D. oak leaf (Major M. G. Durant, M.B.E., R.E.), mounted as worn, good very fine (6) £500-600

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

Michael George Durant, who was born in November 1912, was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in November 1940.

He was subsequently attached to the 3rd Queen Alexandria’s Own Gurkha Rifles and gained a mention in despatches for his services in operations in Iraq, Syria and Persia (London Gazette 14 January 1943, refers), and the M.B.E. for his services in the Burma campaign, latterly having attained the temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Towards the end of the latter operations he served in the Royal Indian Engineers and was awarded a second “mention” (London Gazette 19 September 1946, refers).

Post-war, Durant remained employed in the Indian Army until the late 1940s, following which he returned to the home establishment and was promoted to substantive Major in the Royal Engineers in April 1950. It was in this latter capacity that he won his third mention in despatches for his services in Malaya (London Gazette 26 October 1954, refers).