Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Colonial Administrative Service, Cyprus’ O.B.E., Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. and Second Award Bar group of seven awarded to Captain L. S. Greening, West Yorkshire Regiment and Royal Air Force, late London Regiment

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. L. S. Greening. W. York. Regt.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. L. S. Greening.) attempted erasure of naming on BWM, but naming still discernible; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, generally good very fine (7) £1800-2200

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1941: Leslie Stuart Greening, Esq., M.C., Colonial Administrative Service, Administrative Officer, Cyprus.

M.C. London Gazette 26 September 1917:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on two different occasions when in charge of brigade transport. In spite of intense shelling and machine-gun fire which caused very heavy casualties to animals and men, he brought his transport up with the greatest determination, knowing that his supplies were urgently required fro the front-line trenches. But for his splendid personal example, it is unlikely that these supplies would have reached their destination.’

M.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 26 July 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when ordered to deliver an urgent operation order, involving a journey of about two miles under heavy fire, at close range. His horse was shot shortly after starting, and he performed the remainder of the journey on foot. He successfully delivered his orders, and, then finding his return cut off, he materially assisted in the organisation of a rearguard action. His courage and resource were most marked.’

Leslie Stuart Greening was born in Mosley, Birmingham, on 31 May 1895, and attested for the 12th Battalion, London Regiment (Territorial Force) on 20 February 1912. Promoted Lance-Corporal on 1 January 1914, he served with the Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 24 December 1914, and was promoted Corporal on 1 February 1915. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 13th (Service) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, on 12 May 1915, he continued to serve with the Battalion on the Western Front; was promoted Lieutenant on 14 September 1916; and was awarded the Military Cross and a Second Award Bar. Promoted Captain on 14 April 1918, he transferred to the General List and served as a Staff Captain with 25th Infantry Brigade, 8th Division, from 5 May 1918. He next joined the Royal Air Force on attachment on 26 July 1918, and served with them for the remainder of the War until leaving the Service on 13 April 1919.

Greening subsequently joined the Colonial Police, and in 1925 was serving with the Tanganyika Police in East Africa. During the Second World War he served as an Administrative Officer with the Colonial Administrative Service in Cyprus, and was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1941 New Year’s Honours List- although no citation or recommendation is available, similar awards of the O.B.E. and M.B.E. for this area of service are often for intelligence work. He subsequently served as Administrator of St. Kitts and Nevis from 1947 to 1949, and died in 1986.