Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare ‘Second War’ B.E.M. group of eight to Company Sergeant Major P. T. Benson-Ryal, Worcestershire Regiment and Intelligence Corps, awarded for his services with the British Military Mission to the Egyptian Army

British Empire Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Military (6340681 C.S.M. Patrick); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (6340681 Cpl., Worc. R.), two letters of surname officially corrected; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and war Medals; Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (6340681 Sjt. P. T. Benson-Ryal B.E.M., Int. Corps); together with corresponding miniatures; prize medals (3); Regular Army Certificate of Service; Buckingham Palace transmission slip for B.E.M.; Commission document (2 Lieut.); a large and interesting quantity of original photographs and other documentation, nearly good very fine or better (8) £300-350

B.E.M. London Gazette 6 January 1944. Recommendation states ‘During his three years service with the British Military Mission to the Egyptian Army, C.S.M. Ryal has shown outstanding zeal and devotion to duty. His work throughout has been characterised by great keenness, efficiency, smartness and reliability. Through the exercise of unbounded tact and ability he has rendered exceptional service in fostering good relations between Egyptians, both military and civil, and their British colleagues, and has done much towards instilling confidence in British intentions. In addition to his military duties, he has rendered, under the direction of the Embassy immeasurable service in the political sphere. He has toured the whole area round Asuit constantly and has, to all practical purposes, transformed a potential Anti-British group of towns and villages into a peaceful area in which British ideas are accepted with confidence. He is in my opinion worthy of the award for which he is recommended both for his military and his civil services which are of outstanding merit.’

Company Sergeant Major Patrick Thomas Benson-Ryal, B.E.M., enlisted into the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment in 1928 at the age of nineteen. He served with the Worcestershire Regiment 1937-48, Cheshire Regiment 1948-49 and the Intelligence Corps 1950-52. On the termination of his colour service engagement in June 1952 his Commanding Officer described his conduct as ‘exemplary’; in his testimonial to Benson-Ryal’s service, he writes ‘Sergeant Benson-Ryal has been in the canal zone of Egypt since June 1950. During the whole of this time he has been employed on civil security duties. He has always been very hard working, intelligent, honest and of sober habits. A very smart clean trustworthy N.C.O. who has a wide knowledge of Egyptian affairs. He also has a working knowledge of Arabic, police and customs, popular with everyone he has come into contact, and has done sterling work in the Middle East.’ Benson Ryal was appointed a Second Lieutenant in the Essex Cadet Regiment in 1963.