Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A comprehensive set of warrants, documents and photographs relating to the career of Colonel T. A. Buchanan D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C., East Surrey Regiment, who commanded battalions of the Northamptonshire Regiment and Royal Fusiliers in the Italian campaign, and was later Honorary Colonel of the 6th Queen’s Regiment.

Bestowal Document for the Distinguished Service Order, named to Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) T.A. Buchanan, M.C., The East Surrey Regiment, dated 19 April 1945, in registered envelope with transmission letter; for the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, Officer (O.B.E.) bestowal document, named to Colonel Thomas Alfred Buchanan, D.S.O., M.C., E.R.D., T.D., D.L., dated 13 June 1970, in original envelope, together with named transmission letter and Statutes of the Order; Mentioned in Despatches Certificate, named to Lieutenant (A/Captain) T.A. Buchanan, The East Surrey Regiment, and dated 20 December 1940; Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Surrey appointment document, bearing the signature and seal of The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Munster, named to Colonel Thomas Alfred Buchanan, D.S.O., M.C., E.R.D., T.D., dated 17 April 1964, with transmission letter, and seven other letters relating to Colonel Buchanan’s nomination, and his resignation in 1973; Commission Document as Second Lieutenant, Land Forces, named to Thomas Alfred Buchanan, dated 22 July 1931, generally very fine condition (lot) £150-200

D.S.O. London Gazette 19 April 1945

M.C. London Gazette 11 February 1943

O.B.E. London Gazette 13 June 1970

Thomas “Buck” Buchanan was born in 1908 and commissioned in the Supplementary Reserve of the East Surrey Regiment in 1931. A graduate of London University, he worked as a schoolmaster until called up in 1939. He went to France with the B.E.F. and commanded B Company 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment in the retreat to Dunkirk. He went to North Africa with the East Surreys in 1942, and won an immediate Military Cross for gallantry at Tebourba, where he was wounded. On recovery he was posted to 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment as second-in-command, and from April 1943 as Commanding Officer. He led the battalion in the Sicily campaign, but was again very severely wounded. He was next appointed to command 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers and was awarded the D.S.O. for his leadership at the crossing of the River Garigliano, below Monte Cassino, He was wounded twice more during the period of his command. In 1945 he was appointed to the 2nd East Surreys and took the battalion to Palestine, where it was employed on counter-terrorism duties. Following demobilisation he returned to civilian life as a Senior Education Officer with Surrey County Council, and was appointed O.B.E. as principal of Ewell County Technical College. He died in 1997.

Sold together with sundry other official correspondence, to include letters from the War Office (dated 1947) regarding his decorations, and thanking him for his service; two similar letters from Sir Arthur Dowler, Colonel of the East Surrey Regiment; official notifications of promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel (1950) and Brevet Colonel (1957); correspondence from the Army Medal Office (1956) regarding Colonel Buchanan’s exchange of a second clasp to the Army Emergency Reserve Decoration for the Territorial Efficiency Decoration; a certificate from The City of London Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association, dated 28 January 1958 and signed by the Lord Mayor, recording their appreciation of the services of Lt. Col. Buchanan, Reserve Reconnaissance Unit, over 26 years; a letter from the Major-General Commanding London District (1970) notifying Colonel Buchanan of his appointment as Honorary Colonel of 6th Battalion The Queen’s Regiment (Queen’s Surreys); and twelve original photographs depicting Colonel Buchanan in uniform, at various stages of his career between 1940 and 1970.