Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Colonel F. H. Mardall, Indian Army

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge; 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut., 41/Dogras); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, North West Frontier 1930-31, North West Frontier 1935 (Maj., Tochi Scouts); War Medal; India Service Medal; Coronation 1937, mounted as worn, very fine or better (8) £350-400

Francis Hay Mardall was born on 2 July 1890, was educated at Wellington College, and was commissioned from Sandhurst into the Manchester Regiment on 20 April 1910, becoming Lieutenant in July 1912. He was appointed to the Indian Army as a Double Company Commander, 41st Dogras, on 26 February 1914. He landed with his regiment at Marseilles with the Indian Corps in October 1914 and was in action by the end of that month. He was wounded in the knee by shrapnel on 15 May 1915.

Promoted to Captain in September 1915, Mardall was attached to the Royal Flying Corps in England from November 1915 until March 1916, as Machine-Gun Officer and Observer. He served with 23 Squadron R.F.C. in France from March to August 1916, as Adjutant and Observer, and with the R.F.C. in England from August 1916 until March 1918, as a Pilot Instructor. He served with the R.A.F. until January 1920, as an Instructor and Assistant Commandant at the School of Navigation, employed under the Air Ministry. He was twice wounded during the war and was mentioned in despatches London Gazette 23 July 1919.

Returning to his regiment, now titled 3/17th Dogras, Mardall became a Company Commander in January 1923, and was promoted to Major in April 1926. He was Commandant of the Tochi Scouts from December 1929 for the next three years, during which period he took part in the operations on the North West Frontier in 1930-31. He was next appointed as second-in-command of the 5/10th Baluch Regiment, officiating as Commandant from August 1934 to March 1935, and becoming Commandant in September 1935. During that year he saw service in the Mohmand operations on the North West Frontier.

Mardall commanded the 5/10th Baluchis until September 1938, after which he was appointed as Recruiting Officer at Peshawar. He retired in December 1940 but was immediately re-employed in the same position which he held until he reverted to the Retired List in October 1946. For his services during the war he was appointed an O.B.E. (Military) in June 1943. Colonel Mardall died in 1962.