Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Second World War C.B., North West Frontier 1930-31 operations D.S.O., Great War 1914 operations M.C. group of twelve awarded to Major-General C. A. West, Royal Engineers, latterly Assistant Chief of Staff at S.H.A.E.F.

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914 star, with clasp (Lieut., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.), this last renamed; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier, M.I.D. oak leaf 1930-31 (Major, D.S.O., M.C., R.E.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, these four privately inscribed ‘Maj. Gen. C. A. West’; Coronation 1937, mounted court-style as worn, the second with slightly recessed reverse centre and traces of repair, otherwise generally good very fine (12) £2000-2500

C.B. London Gazette 8 June 1944.

D.S.O. London Gazette 7 May 1932 (North West Frontier).

M.C. London Gazette 18 February 1915.

Clement Arthur West was born in India in August 1892 and was educated at King’s School, Canterbury and the R.M.A. Woolwich. Commissioned into the Royal Engineers in July 1912, he was advanced to Lieutenant shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914.

West arrived in France with the 54th Field Company, R.E. on 5 October 1914, and was subsequently present at Mons, Le Cateau, the crossing of the Marne and Aisne, La Bassee and Ypres, and remained on active service until 1 February 1915, services that won him the M.C. and his first mention in despatches (London Gazette 17 February 1915). He was also severely wounded during this period.

Returning to active duty with 227th Field Company, R.E. in August 1916, he was employed in the battle of Thiepval in the following month, prior to being assigned to the British 66th Division as Adjutant to the Commander Royal Engineers (C.R.E.) that October. West remained similarly emplolyed until July 1918 and was again mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 4 December 1917).

Between the wars he enjoyed a series of staff appointments, in addition to another stint of active service on the North West Frontier as a Brigade Major between 1930-31, the latter operations resulting in him being awarded the D.S.O. and a further “mention”. In May 1932, West became a G.S.O. 2 at Army H.Q., India, but in October 1934 he returned home to take up a new appointment as Deputy Assistant Military Secretary at the War Office.

Thus ensued a series of senior appointments in the 1939-45 War, commencing with a stint as a Brigadier on the General Staff 1940-42, during which period he joined a delegation sent to the New Zealand Government. Advanced to Major-General on the General Staff in 1943, West next became a District Commander, Home Forces, and latterly an Assistant Chief of Staff at S.H.A.E.F., being awarded a C.B. in 1944. He retired in January 1947 and died in September 1972.