Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) 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) £400-500

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

Michael George Durant was born in November 1912, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in November 1940. He served during the Second World War attached to the 3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles, and was mentioned in Despatches for his services in operations in Iraq, Syria and Persia (London Gazette 14 January 1943). Promoted to temporary Lieutenant-Colonel, he was created a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services in the Burma campaign, and subsequently served in the Royal Indian Engineers, receiving a second Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 19 September 1946).

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. He served with the Royal Engineers in Malaya, where he was Mentioned in Despatches for a third time (London Gazette 26 October 1954).