Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War ‘Egypt Service’ M.B.E. group of eight awarded to Major R. B. Yeld, Royal Engineers, late 8th (Ardwick) Battalion (TF) Manchester Regiment

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed, good very fine and better (8) £280-320

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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Roy Boteler Yeld was born in Withington, Manchester on 28 November 1888, the son of Percy Boteler and Adelaide Anne Yeld. He was educated privately at Oakham School, Rutland, after which he followed his father’s footsteps and became a Calico Printers’ Salesman. He was commissioned into the 8th (Ardwick) Battalion (TF) Manchester Regiment on 5 August 1914 and joined the regiment in Egypt in April 1915. With the 1/8th Battalion he was posted to Gallipoli on 25 May 1915 and was promoted to Lieutenant in June 1915. By 12 August 1915, due to either wounds or illness he was evacuated from Gallipoli to hospital in Egypt. His regiment returned to Egypt in January 1916 and then went to France in March 1917. Yeld remained in Egypt and in May 1917 was seconded as Railway Transport Officer (R.T.O.). During July-September he was ill in various hospitals in Egypt. On 1 October 1917 he sailed from Alexandria to Taranto, S. Italy and thence to England, on leave. He returned to Alexandria as R.T.O. on 25 November 1917 but his service continued to be blighted by illnesses. Yeld returned to England in April 1919; was restored to the establishment of the 8th Battalion in June 1919 and relinquished his commission on 1 September 1921. After the war he returned to Egypt where he was appointed Divisional Traffic Superintendent for the Egyptian State Railways. He spent 16 years in Egypt and three working in Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Transjordan. With the outbreak of the Second World War he was back in England. living at Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire. He was appointed to an Emergency Commission in the Royal Engineers with the role of R.T.O. in September 1939. By September 1939 he was in France with No. 1 Movement Control Group B.E.F. He was appointed Deputy Assistant Transportation (Movements) on escaping to England with the fall of France. He was appointed Temporary Major in September 1940 and was transferred to Alexandria, Egypt. On 30 December 1941 he was awarded the M.B.E. (London Gazette 30 December 1941)

Citation: ‘This officer was in charge of the railway side of the Movement Control in Alexandria Sub-Area, a task which he has carried out with diplomacy and tact. Throughout some very difficult periods he maintained good relations with the local E.S.R. Authorities, and at the same time he was always able to make satisfactory arrangements with them for our requirements for the transportation of stores and personnel. As O.C.3 13 M.C. Group, he has been in charge of the personnel on the Western Desert Line for some time. He has always taken the very greatest pains to see that Junior Officers, NCO’s and men are properly placed and properly looked after.’

Yeld returned to England in July 1943 and served with South East Command. In January 1944 he was posted as Q(M) Western Command as Senior Rail Transport Officer (SRTO). He also served in the same capacity in Birmingham and Liverpool. After the war he rejoined as a Captain on the General List for a short service commission for three years. He relinquished his commission on completion of his service in January 1950 and was granted the honorary rank of Major.

With copied research.