Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Major-General Patrick Turpin, Royal Army Service Corps

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf, these all unnamed, mounted court style for wear; together with a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps Medallion, 75mm. diameter, 7mm. thick, bronze, reverse inscribed, ‘Presented to Maj Gen Patrick G. Turpin, OBE Director of Supplies and Transport War Office - Great Britain from Maj Gen Webster Anderson The Quartermaster General U.S. Army’, this in plastic case, good very fine and better (8) £200-250

O.B.E. (mil) London Gazette 25 November 1943. ‘... in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.’ ‘Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Patrick George Turpin (63806), Royal Army Service Corps (Seaton, Devon)’

Recommendation reads: ‘Lt-Col. P. G. Turpin has been A.Q.M.G. of 30 Corps since February 1943 and, as such, he had charge of all the detailed planning connected with the maintenance of the Corps during the advance from Tripoli until the Corps was relieved at Sfax. During this period the Corps was continually changing its composition and many involved problems concerning ammunition, water and petrol supplies had to be solved. It was in very great part due to Lt-Col. Turpin’s knowledge, foresight, inperturbability and close and constant attention to detail that these problems were successfully met. At no time during this period did any unit go short of supplies or any plan fail due to lack of provision. Since the close of the campaign Lt-Col. Turpin has worked indefatigably on other complicated duties which have fallen to him. It is no exaggeration to say that Lt-Col. Turpin’s work has been most valuable to the Corps he served and to the pursuance of operations as a whole.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 24 August 1944.

M.I.D. London Gazette 19 July 1945. ‘... in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.’ ‘Lt.-Col. (temp) P. G. Turpin, O.B.E. (63806)’

Patrick George Turpin was born on 27 April 1911, the son of The Rev. J. J. Turpin. He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford and gained a B.A.. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the R.A.S.C. in 1933. During the war he served with the R.A.S.C. and on the staff, serving in the western desert, Sicily, Italy and Germany. He was A.Q.M.G. XXX Corps, 1943; A.A. & Q.M.G., 5 Infantry Division, 1943-44; D.A. & Q.M.G. (temp. Brigadier) I Corps, 1945. Appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in 1949; Colonel in 1953 and Brigadier in 1959; attaining the rank of Major-General in 1960. Served as Director of Movement, Ministry of Defence, 1963-66 and was Colonel of the Gurkha Army Service Corps, 1960-65 and Colonel Commandant of the Royal Corps of Transport from 1965. Awarded the C.B. in 1962. With copied research and with an envelope addressed to ‘Mrs Turpin, Fordbridge House, Fordbridge Rd., Ashford, Middlesex.’

Withdrawn