Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War M.B.E. group of six awarded to Major E. Speechley, Royal Signals, who was further Mentioned in Despatches for services in North West Europe

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type, breast badge; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Efficiency Decoration, E.II.R., reverse officially dated 1955, with Army Emergency Reserve top riband bar, mounted as worn, very fine and better (6) £240-£280

M.B.E. London Gazette 24 January 1946.
The original recommendation states: ‘During the period 22 July 1944 to 8 May 1945 this officer has displayed devotion to duty of a high order. As officer commanding a Line Company responsible for the provision of extensive line communications for 2nd Tactical Air Force H.Q.’s, his grit and determination were an inspiration to the officers and men under his command.
Throughout the campaign he was continuously in the forward areas reconnoitring line routes and supervising the building of main arteries. He has spared no effort to ensure the provision of the vital communications at the required moment.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 10 May 1945:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe.’

Ernest Speechley was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in 1907. Appointed to a commission in the Royal Signals on 21 January 1939, he was raised War Substantive Captain on 25 September 1941 and for his services during the Second World War was Mentioned in Despatches and appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire. Further recognised with the award of the Emergency Reserve Decoration in the London Gazette of 28 June 1955, Speechley retired from the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers on 26 June 1957. He died at Skelton, York, in August 1977.

Sold with a fine selection of original documentation including named Buckingham Palace enclosure for M.B.E.; Mention in Despatches Certificate and War Office letter regarding issue of emblem; forwarding letter regarding Emergency Reserve Decoration from the Army Medal Office, Droitwich, dated 2 January 1956; a newspaper cutting regarding the award of the M.B.E., noting the recipient as a footballer in the Royal Artillery T.A. and York Post Office teams; with three large contemporary photographs of the recipient in military uniform.