Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Major C. C. Lamb, Royal Highlanders and 10th Sudanese Infantry Regiment

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Wittebergen, Transvaal (Lieut: C. C. Lamb, 2nd Rl: Highldrs.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut: C. C. Lamb, Rl. Hgrs.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Major. C. C. Lamb.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Claude C. Lamb) generally very fine (7) £600-£800

O.B.E. London Gazette 12 December 1919

Claude Carnegie Lamb was born in St Andrews, Fife on 8 January 1881 and was commissioned into the Black Watch as Second Lieutenant on 20 January 1900. Joining his battalion in South Africa in April 1900 and served with it throughout the War, having been promoted Lieutenant on 11 May 1901. Advanced to Captain on 8 November 1906, at the outbreak of the Great War he was serving as Adjutant of the 10th (Service) Battalion. Promoted Major on 1 September 1915, in 1916 he was attached to the 10th Sudanese Infantry Regiment and later that year he was appointed Brigade Major, South Midland Brigade and Tyne Garrison. Serving in the last post until 1919, in March 1920, he was appointed Adjutant of the 4th Black Watch (Territorial), a post he held until retiring. At the outbreak of the Second War, he was recalled to duty, serving as a Captain in the National Defence Companies from 16 July 1939, as Second in Command of the 9th Black Watch. On 1 May 1942, he retired due to old age but moved to Cheltenham to work with American H.Q. In 1944, he joined the Ministry of Pensions, serving for five years before retiring. He died in Cheltenham on 25 April 1963.

Sold with the recipient’s Bestowal Document for the O.B.E.; Commission Document; the Recipient’s Army Book 439, detailing full service; various portrait photographs of the recipient in uniform; newspaper clippings; and various copied research and other ephemera.

Note: The recipient’s Medal Index Card confirms that the British War Medal was the only campaign medal he received for the Great War.