A post-war Civil Division O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Major H. E. Whaley, Coldstream Guards, late Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and Royal Field Artillery

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (Lieut. H. E. Whaley, Coldstream Gds:); King’s South Africa 1902-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1902, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. H. E. Whaley. Coldstream. Gds.); 1914-15 Star (Lieut. H. E. Whaley. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Major H. E. Whaley.); Defence Medal, mounted as originally worn, with medal ribands, the latter with M.I.D. Oak Leaves, light contact marks overall, therefore generally nearly very fine or better (7) £400-£500

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1955 ‘For public services in Rutland’.

Herbert Egerton Whaley was the son of Major C. H. Whaley, and was born in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, in July 1881. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in January 1900. He initially served with the Regiment in South Africa, before transferring to the Coldstream Guards as a Lieutenant in May 1901.

Whaley was appointed a Sheriff of Rutland in November 1914. He initially served during the Great War with the Royal Field Artillery in the French theatre of war from March 1915. Whaley subsequently advanced to Major and returned for service with the Coldstream Guards (M.I.D.). He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Rutland in 1944, Vice Lieutenant in 1949, and High Sheriff in 1951.

Whaley’s son Peter also served with the Coldstream Guards, and was killed in action during the Second War whilst serving in Italy, April 1945. Whaley died in February 1962, and is buried in St. Mary’s Churchyard, Ashwell.