Orders, Decorations and Medals

A military M.B.E. group of five awarded to Major Percy Bedwell, Indian Army, late Northamptonshire Regiment

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1927; India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-98 (4317 Pte., 1st Bn. North’n. Regt.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Condr., I.O.D.); Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (Sub Codtr., Ordnance Dept.) mounted court style for wear, minor contact marks, generally good very fine (5) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

View
Collection

M.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1929.

Percy Bedwell was born at East Hill, St. James, Colchester, on 20 March 1875. A Draper by occupation and a member of the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Essex Regiment, he attested for service with the Northampton Regiment at Colchester on 16 April 1894, aged 19 years. He served with the 2nd Battalion until 1896. With the 1st Battalion he served in India, September 1896-December 1901. He transferred to the Bengal Unattached List in April 1903, being promoted to Sergeant in April 1904, Sub-Conductor in October 1910 and Conductor in June 1915. On the occasion of the explosion in the main magazine at the Ferozepore Arsenal on 30/31 August 1906, he displayed gallant conduct and good service for which he was commended by the Government of India on 25 April 1907. In 1912, as a Sub-Conductor in the Ordnance Department, he was awarded the Army L.S. & G.C. without gratuity, this notified in I.A.O. 547 of September 1912. Bedwell served in India throughout the Great War. In December 1922 he was appointed an Assistant Commissary with the honorary rank of Lieutenant. In subsequent years he was a Technical Officer in various departments of the Indian Army, and in September 1924 he was promoted to Deputy Commissary with the honorary rank of Captain. He was further promoted to Commissary with the honorary rank of Major in February 1926. At this rank he was awarded the M.B.E. in 1929, being presented his award at Buckingham Palace on 4 March 1930. He retired from the Army on 16 April 1930. During the Second World War he served as a Sergeant in the Portsmouth Battalion of the Home Guard. He died on 24 November 1952 at 51 Queen’s Road, Gosport.

Sold with original Battalion Orders of the 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment (3) in which Bedwell is mentioned; commission documents (2) appointing him Assistant Commissary and another, appointing him Major; two letters of congratulations on the award of the M.B.E.; a letter from the Central Chancery re. the investiture; a note of condolence from the Central Chancery to his daughter; two photographs and copied service papers and other research.