Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War C.B., ‘Mohmand 1933’ operations D.S.O., and Great War M.C. group of thirteen awarded to Major-General A. V. T. Wakely, Royal Engineers

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R.; Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (Capt. A. V. T. Wakely. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. A. V. T. Wakely); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Mohmand 1933 (Lt. Col. A. V. T. Wakely, D.S.O., M.C., R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, the last twelve mounted as worn, generally good very fine (13) £2600-3200

C.B. (Military) London Gazette 11 June 1942.

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 July 1934: ‘For distinguished services in the field in connection with military operations against the Upper Mohmands, July to October, 1933.’ One of three D.S.O.’s for these operations.

M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916: ‘For distinguished services in the field.’

Arthur Victor Trocke Wakely was born on 28 November 1886 at Avoca, Co, Wicklow, the son of the Rev. J. M. Robinson. He was educated at Campbell College, Belfast, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.

He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers on 20 December 1906. He then served for four years in Ireland with 59 Field Company at the Curragh and then joined 32 Fortress Company at Gibraltar where he stayed until the outbreak of war in 1914. During the war he commanded 32 Advanced Park Company which had been formed out of 32 Fortress Company. Later he served at the B.E.F. Bridging School in France until in 1919 he became Assistant Director Engineer Stores, France and Flanders. He won the M.C., in 1916 and was promoted Brevet Major in 1918.

His next appointment was O.C. the Experimental Bridging Company at Christchurch where he stayed until he went to the Staff College at the end of 1922. In 1926 he went to India where he was destined to do the rest of his service except for a short period at home when he was an instructor at the Senior Officers School at Sheerness.

He will be remembered in the North-West Frontier for the extensive road development schemes which he carried out as A/C.R.E. and later as C.R.E. Peshawar District. He was instrumental in introducing earth-moving machinery and mechanical equipment on a comparatively large scale into the Frontier where the mule was still the main means of transport and manual labour, the pick and shovel the only means of road building.

For distinguished service in the Mohmand Campaign of 1933 he was awarded the D.S.O. During the last war he commanded 7 Indian Division for two years in India. Then he was appointed G.O.C. Lines of Communication, Burma and later Commander 101 l. of C. Area, India. He was Director of Movement and Director General Transportation and Storage, Civil Supplies Bengal, from 1943 until he retired in 1945.

In 1913 he married Ruby Clone Jellett, daughter of Judge John Wakely and in 1919 changed his name by Deed Poll to Wakely. He died on 29 April 1959, aged 73, at Templemore, Co. Tipperary.