Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Army Boxing Association, Boxing scene, rev. inscribed, ‘Individual Championship, 1931 Officers Welter-Weight Runner-up, Lieut. J. J. McCully, Royal Sussex Regiment’, 53mm., silver, cut to edge; Army & Royal Air Force Boxing Association India, Inter-unit team championships India, ‘Pte. Neary, Runners-up 1936-37’, 51mm., bronze, in case; Boxing Medal, Boxing scene, engraved, ‘3rd Army Inf Sch., Oct. 1917, Officers Lt. Wt, Capt. McColl, 9th W. Rng.’ rectangular, 60 x 47mm., bronze; Army Cadet Force, Boxing Scene, rev. engraved, ‘Surrey Army Cadet Force Championships 1946-47, Corporal C. Hodgson’, 32mm., silver, very fine and better (4) £30-40

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Military Sports and Shooting Medals from the James N. Spencer Collection.

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John James McCully was born on 2 November 1904 and entered the Royal Sussex Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant on 29 January 1927. Promoted Lieutenant in 1927 he was employed with the Iraq Levies during December 1932-October 1937, with the local rank of Captain from August 1935. Promoted Captain in August 1937 he was Adjutant during March-November 1940.

He was promoted Major on 29 January 1942 and War Substansive Lieutenant-Colonel on 29 October 1944. McCully was appointed Temporary Colonel and Temporary Brigadier on 29 October 1944. For his wartime services he was awarded the D.S.O. (London Gazette 17 June 1943).

McCully D.S.O. recommendation reads, (Middle East) ‘Throughout the past period of operations from 23 Oct-5 Nov, Lt.-Col. McCully has displayed a very high order of leadership and calmness under fire, in the face of the most difficult situations. On night 27/28 Oct., his bn was ordered to carry out a night attack, with but the scantiest of preparation, and in the face of heavy opposition. Owing to circumstances beyond Lt-Col. McCully’s control the bn did not quite reach its objective and found itself next morning holding a very exposed position under heavy and accurate S.A. and arty fire. Despite this, however, they held on for a day and a half before being withdrawn. It was mainly due to Lt. Col. McCully’s coolness and leadership that the bn got as far as it did, and then maintained itself there for so long. ...’