Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare ‘Waziristan’ 1924 ‘immediate’ M.S.M. group of ten awarded to Captain A. Greenhalgh, Royal Engineers, attached Madras Sappers and Miners, Indian Army

General Service, 2 clasps, Kurdistan, Iraq (314075 A. Sjt. A. Greenhalgh. R.E.); India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24, Burma 1930-32 (1854281 C.S.M. A. Greenhalgh. R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (1854281 W.O. Cl.1. A. Greenhalgh. R.E.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (1854281 Cpl. A. Greenhalgh. R.E.); Indian Independence Medal 1947, unnamed as issued, nearly very fine or better (10) £500-£700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers.

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M.S.M. London Gazette 23 March 1925:
‘In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Waziristan, 21st April 1923 to 31st March 1924’

Arthur Greenhalgh was born in Sheffield in 1899. He re-attested for the Royal Engineers at Conway on 1 February 1919 having already attested for ‘qualifying service’ on 29 April 1918 in Sheffield. His Great War medal index card shows the award of British War and Victory Medals subsequently crossed out and the medal roll similarly marks his awards as ineligible and returned.
He was initially assigned to the Inland Water Transport Section and later in 1919 he was posted to India, as acting Sergeant, attached to the 13th Company, Madras Sappers and Miners, serving in this capacity in Iraq and Kurdistan, 1919-20 and Waziristan 1919-24. He was awarded an immediate M.S.M. for service in Waziristan (Corporal, acting C.S.M.), one of only 94 M.S.M.s awarded for Waziristan in the period 1920-28 and one of the last ‘immediate’ awards.

Greenhalgh subsequently served in the Madras Sappers and Miners in Burma 1930-32 and in the Second World War, having been promoted Warrant Officer Class I in 1934 and Sergeant Major Instructor in 1936. He was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major, Madras Sappers and Miners, in March 1939 and was authorised to serve beyond 21 years in 1940. Appointed Lieutenant and Quartermaster, Madras Sappers and Miners, in September 1940 he was advanced to War Substantive Captain in September 1943, serving as Staff Captain, Adjutant General’s Staff, H.Q. from that date.

Sold with copied research.