Auction Catalogue

2 April 2003

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. Including a superb collection of medals to the King’s German Legion, Police Medals from the Collection of John Tamplin and a small collection of medals to the Irish Guards

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 954

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2 April 2003

Hammer Price:
£200

The mounted group of fifteen miniature dress medals attributed to Major-General E. A. Beck, Royal Scots Fusiliers and King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, Order of the Bath, Military Division, silver-gilt and enamel, ring suspension; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, complete with top bar; Queen’s South Africa, 3 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal; King’s South Africa, 2 clasps; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaf; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31; Defence and War Medals; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Italy, Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, 5th Class, silver-gilt and enamel; France, Croix de Guerre 1914-18, gilt star on ribbon; Belgium, Croix de Guerre 1914-18, mounted Court style as worn, third and fourth with contact marks and fine, others generally good very fine and better (15) £90-120

Edward Archibald Beck was born in 1880 and educated at Wellington and Sandhurst. In 1900 he entered the Army as an Ensign in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and served in the Boer War with the 2nd battalion and with the 12th Mounted Infantry. Serving in the Egyptian Army during 1909-12, he was promoted Captain in 1910 and Major in 1915. Serving in the Great War, he was six times mentioned in despatches, awarded the D.S.O., made brevet Lieutenant-Colonel and in 1918 awarded the Italian Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus and both French and Belgian Croix de Guerre. Appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in the K.O.Y.L.I. in 1929, he served on the N.W. Frontier of India during 1930-31. Later appointments included that of A.D.C. to the King 1935-36. Promoted Major-General in 1936, he was Director of Personal Services at the War Office during 1938-40. He commanded the 9th Highland Division in 1940 before being placed on Retired Pay. During the period 1940-45 he was Commander of the Perthshire Home Guard. and Hon. Colonel of the 4th / 5th battalions Royal Scots Fusiliers. He died in 1974.