Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War O.B.E. group of three awarded to Captain D. M. Peattie, Chinese Labour Corps, late Cheshire Regiment, who was also Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Chinese Order of the Striped Tiger Fifth Class

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. D. M. Peattie.) mounted for display along with the riband of the Chinese Order of the Striped Tiger, nearly extremely fine (3) £300-£400

One of only 12 O.B.E.s awarded to the Chinese Labour Corps during the Great War.

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

M.I.D. London Gazette 10 July 1919.

Chinese Order of the Striped Tiger, Fifth Class London Gazette 17 February 1920:
‘For distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign.’

Donald Munro Peattie was born in Oxford on 2 November 1880 and prior to the Great War was employed as a Building Manager and Surveyor with his father’s Building Company. Following the outbreak of War he applied for a commission with the Royal Engineers, but this was refused on account of him having a heart condition. Not to be deterred, he attested as a Private in the Cheshire Regiment on 10 December 1915, and having been advanced Acting Company Sergeant Major served with the 20th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from June 1916. However, during a subsequent medical examination he was again found to be suffering from heart disease and was pronounced medically unfit for Military Service, but fit for service with the Labour Corps.

Peattie transferred to the 61st Company, Labour Corps on 14 May 1917 and was appointed a Company Sergeant Major, before being commissioned temporary Second Lieutenant on 13 August of that year. In December 1917 he was appointed Adjutant of the Chinese Labour Corps Base Depot, with the rank of Acting Captain, and it was for his services in this roll that he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire; was Mentioned in Despatches (1 of only 80 ‘Mentions’ to the Chinese Labour Corps); and was awarded the Chinese Order of the Striped Tiger, Fifth Class, one of only two men to have received all three of these distinctions while serving with the Chinese Labour Corps.

Peattie relinquished his commission, medically unfit, in 1919, and returned to his family’s building company. He died from the result of an accident in London on 13 September 1934.

Sold with a set of Labour Corps badges; and copied research.