Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War 1953 Military Division B.E.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant A. Ash, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (22270052 Sgt. Thomas A. Ash, R.E.M.E.) minor official correction to number; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for wear, generally very fine (3) £160-£200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

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B.E.M. London Gazette 1 June 1953.
The original recommendation states: ‘Sergeant Ash joined the Unit (11 Beach Recovery Section R.E.M.E. (T.A.)) as a permanent staff instructor in 1947 and completed his engagement in October 1948. He engaged as a volunteer for two years in February 1949 and on the termination of same re-engaged for a further four years. He has given exceptional service to the Territorial Army both as a permanent staff instructor (Sgt) and on completion of his engagement as a volunteer instructor (Sgt) of the force. His cheerfulness and humour under exceptionally arduous or difficult circumstances have become a byword not only in the Unit but in the Brigade.
He has never failed to attend, both as a regular soldier and as a volunteer, amphibious training whether at weekend or at camp and worked exceptionally cheerfully, hard and satisfactorily on all such occasions, often wet, dirty and hungry without complaint or loss of his unquenchable sense of humour. During the past two years he has attended in addition to fifteen days annual camp, extra instructional periods of one week’s duration at Regular Army Instructional Establishments and has requested vacancies on further courses during the coming year. He gives all his free time to his Territorial Army work and in addition to his other duties he has been a very great help on the social side of the R.E.M.E. Units in the T.A. Centre. Particularly so in the Sergeants’ Mess during the past year.
He is exceptionally resourceful when operating in charge of Recovery operations with the recovery crews without supervision and entirely on his own initiative. He can be relied upon when given a job no matter how difficult to be in a position to successfully report its completion, always cheerfully and with a joke, independent of time, weather and other adverse factors.’