Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A very rare ‘Burma 1930’ operations M.C. group of six awarded to Major G. E. Sankey, The Buffs, attached 2/15th Punjab Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse engraved ‘Lieut. G. E. Sankey. The Buffs. Burma. December 29th 1930’; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. G. E. Sankey.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut. G. E. Sankey. M.C. The Buffs.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal, mounted for display, nearly very fine or better and unique to the regiment (6) £3000-4000

M.C. London Gazette 24 May 1932. ‘For gallant and distinguished service in action during the recent Military Operations in Burma.’ One of only 8 M.C.’s awarded for the campaign in Burma 1930-32.

M.I.D. London Gazette 20 December 1932.

The following details were published in The Rangoon Times, Wednesday, December 31, 1930:

‘THE FIGHT AT UDO. According to those who followed the company of Punjabis to Udo on Sunday evening, as soon as the company arrived at its destination a report was received that the rebels had visited Thetkogon and had taken a horse and some money from villagers. The troops left immediately for the village. On arrival they heard the report of five guns but the rebels did not come out into the open to fight. The next morning at about 8 a.m., the party proceeded towards Gangabin village when information was received that the body of rebels were hiding there. Lieutenant Sankey who was in charge waited for the rebels near this village and in a little while the latter arrived on the scene and opened fire, but, fortunately, not hitting any of the troops. The fire was returned by the troops and it was estimated that at least fifty of the rebels had been killed and about a score injured. A few of the latter who were captured were sent to Tharrawaddy. Lieutenant Sankey had a narrow escape as a stick he was carrying was hit by a bullet and was shattered. Finding that they could not withstand the attack of the troops, the rebels withdrew into the forests, and a few hours later the whole of the village of Gangabin was set on fire.’

Gordon Everist Sankey was born on 5 September 1898. He joined the Royal Military College on 3 May 1917, was commissioned into the Buffs on 24 April 1918, and proceeded to France on 30 July 1918; Lieutenant, 24 October 1919; attached West India Regiment, September 1921 to December 1924; employed with King’s African Rifles, February 1927 to February 1930; Burma 1930-32 (Despatches, M.C., Medal and clasp); Captain, 21 January 1934; retired 1937. Recalled and gazetted Brevet Major, 24 August 1939; B.E.F. 1939-40; Major 1940; transferred to R.A.R.O. with rank of Major, 1941.

The group is sold with his original M.I.D. Certificate, dated 18th May 1932; letter of congratulations from the Governor of Burma; another letter and telegram; The Dragon, regimental magazine of the Buffs, July 1932, announcing award of the M.C.; The Rangoon Gazette, 31 December 1930, and 1 January 1931, with map and description of the insurgency, and The Rangoon Times, 31 December 1930.