The civil M.B.E., Mau Mau troubles G.M. group of nine awarded to Assistant Superintendent L. M. Brans, Kenya Police, late East Surrey Regiment, Royal West Kent Regiment and Eritrea Police

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; George Medal, E.II.R., 1st issue (A./Asst. Supt. Lionel M. Brans, M.B.E., Kenya Police); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Kenya, M.I.D. oak leaf (A.S.P. L. M. Brans); Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (Lt. L. M. Brans, M.B.E., R.W.K.), together with his wife’s Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Kenya (E7534 I.P. II (R.) (W.) D. Brans), and a Kenya Police badge, contact marks, generally good very fine (11) £2500-3000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Ron Penhall Collection.

View
Collection

M.B.E. London Gazette 5 June 1952.

G.M. London Gazette 28 September 1954 (joint citation):

‘During the attempted negotiations with Mau Mau terrorists in the Mount Kenya area, conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in a series of incidents over a long period were displayed by the members of the Kenya Police Force who made contact with the Mau Mau leaders.

Assistant Commissioner Gribble was responsible for the organisation and direction of the attempt to arrange a mass surrender of terrorists and during the course of difficult and dangerous negotiations he showed personal bravery and performed tasks in exposed operational areas when his life was in constant danger.

Superintendent Henderson was in immediate command of a detachment [including Brans] which was assigned the duty of attempting to bring about a meeting between Government representatives and those of the terrorists. The nature of this assignment made it necessary for Superintendent Henderson to travel frequently, and at great risk, into the forests and parts of the reserves occupied by terrorists in order to achieve the objective. Throughout this period the Superintendent displayed intelligence, zeal and courage of the very highest order and on no less than ten occasions, as he well knew, his life was in jeopardy. When the final meeting was arranged it was suspected that any of the terrorists who attended would do so with murderous intent. Nevertheless the appointment had to be kept. Superintendent Henderson went to keep it with five other officers. The approach to the meeting place was in thick wood and bush, and because visibility was reduced to a few yards by mist, the Superintendent left the remainder of the party outside the dangerous area and reconnoitred it himself on foot, remaining at the actual meeting place for half an hour before returning to base.

Assistant Superintendent Ruck and Assistant Superintendent Brans accompanied Superintendent Henderson during the operations and undertook numerous journeys to the Mount Kenya area in the furtherance of their objectives. Both men displayed great devotion to duty and a contempt for the obvious dangers involved.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 19 July 1957: ‘For distinguished services in Kenya during the period April 1955 to November 1956.’

Lionel Martin Brans was born in December 1911 and served in the Merchant Navy prior to joining the Territorials with an appointment in the East Surrey Regiment in June 1937. Mobilised with the 1/6th Battalion on the outbreak of hostilities, he served in the B.E.F. from December 1939 to May 1940, when he was wounded by a gunshot in the left hand. Selected to attend an O.C.T.U. in early 1942, he received a Regular Army Emergency Commission in the Royal West Kents in July 1942, and went on to witness active service with the 8th Army in North Africa, the Sudan and Eritrea 1942-44, and in Italy from July 1944 until September 1945.

Post-war, Brans served in the Eritrean Police Force as Senior Assistant Superintendent in charge of the Asmara Rural District, from February 1946 to September 1952, and was awarded his M.B.E. in recognition of meritorious service in the latter year - during the course of this appointment, while working with a team of three native policemen, he accounted for 800 bandits, surrendered, captured or killed, plus vast quantities of arms, ammunition and grenades.

Brans next took up an appointment as an Acting Assistant Superintendent in the Kenya Police, in which post he received his Efficiency Medal while stationed at Kitaie Police Station (London Gazette 19 May 1953), and in the following year he added the G.M. to his Honours and Awards for the above related deeds - his Africa General Service Medal was issued to him in May 1958.