Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.B.E., M.C. group of eight awarded to Major E. K. Laman, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, hallmarked London 1919; Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (Q.M. & Lieut. E. K. Laman. S. Wales Bord.); British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Capt. E. K. Laman.); Defence Medal; Coronation 1911; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3800 S. Mjr: E. K. Laman. S.W Bdrs.); together with Army Rifles Association medal, silver-gilt with bar inscribed ‘1913’; two Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs medals, ‘Wales & Monmouthshire League’, gilt and enamels, reverses inscribed ‘2nd Division 1932-33’ and ‘Second Division 1933-34’, these last three all unnamed; and a companion set of eight mounted miniature medals, very fine or better (12) £700-900

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

M.B.E. London Gazette 12 February 1919.

Ernest Kirkland Laman was commissioned as Lieutenant & Quartermaster on 2 January 1914; Captain & Quartermaster, 1 July 1917; Major, 3 January 1929; retired, 4 October 1930. Served with the 2nd Battalion and sailed 19 September 1914 for Tsingtao, China. Landed at “S” Beach, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915, and was wounded at Fir Tree Wood on 7 May. Left Gallipoli on 8 January 1916 for Alexandria, and thence to Marseilles, arriving on the Western front in April 1916. Captain Laman left France in August 1918 for 6 months’ duty at home. Sold with copied m.i.c. and some research notes.

Considerable extra information on this officer, including extracts from his war diaries and many photographs, can be found online at www.neverforgetyourwelshheroes.org.uk

The 1937 North West Frontier M.C. group awarded to his son, Major F. E. K. Laman, 1st Punjabis, was sold in these rooms on 25 November 2015.