An inter-War O.B.E. group of nine awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel E. McPoland, Indian Miscellaneous List, late Northumberland Fusiliers- an impressive group to a man discharged from the Royal Engineers after two months’ service on account of ‘not likely to become an efficient soldier’

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (188 Pte. E. Mc Poland, 1 Bn. North’d. Fus.) unit officially corrected; British War Medal 1914-20 (S-Sgt. E. Mc Polnad, I.M.L.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (Sub-Condr. E. Mc Poland, I.M.L.) generally very fine and better (9) £500-700

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1931.

Edward McPoland was born in Colchester, Essex, on 27 September 1883, and attested for the Royal Engineers at Chatham on 27 February 1904. Discharged two months later, on account of ‘not likely to become an efficient soldier’, he re-attested for the Northumberland Fusiliers on 25 January 1905. Posted to the 4th Battalion, he was appointed Lance Corporal on 14 March 1905, and transferred to the 1st Battalion for service in India on 3 September 1907. He served with the Battalion on the North West Frontier, and was promoted Corporal on 23 June 1908. He transferred to the Indian Miscellaneous list, with the rank of Sergeant, on 13 December 1910, and was promoted Staff Sergeant on 13 December 1913. Appointed Sub-Conductor on 3 April 1923, he was awarded his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 17 July 1923, per India Army Order 39, and was advanced Conductor on 13 August 1927. He was commissioned Major (Commissary) on 31 January 1928 and was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1931 whilst serving as Officer Supervisor, Military Secretary’s Branch, Army Headquarters, India. He was promoted to his final rank of Lieutenant-Colonel (Commissary) on 7 November 1936. Appointed Assistant Military Secretary, Army Headquarters, India, on 1 August 1937, he embarked for the U.K. on leave pending retirement on 8 April 1939, but following the outbreak of the Second World War was appointed Staff Captain on 8 August 1939.