Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War ‘Malayan Emergency’ M.B.E. group of six awarded to Major M. R. Ireland-Blackburne, South Lancashire Regiment, attached Topographical Intelligence Section, Joint Intelligence Bureau, who was previously wounded in France in 1944

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (Capt. Ireland-Blackburne. M.B.E. S. Lan. R.) mounted court-style, last scarce to unit, good very fine (6) £300-400

M.B.E. London Gazette 13 December 1949:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya during the period 1st January 1949 to 30th June 1949.’

The original Recommendation, dated 28 May 1949, states: ‘Towards the end of 1947 the collection of certain classes of Joint Intelligence Bureau material became the special responsibility of of the Intelligence branch of General Headquarters, FARELF, and a new section of that branch named the Topographical Intelligence Section was created for the purpose.
Captain Ireland-Blackburne was selected for duty with this section, but at the special request of the Joint Intelligence Bureau representatives in Singapore, he was seconded to the Commissioner General’s staff for a period of nine months to tour British territories in the Far East for the purpose of initiating the work of collecting Joint Intelligence Bureau material by Colonial government officials. It is largely due to the interest and enthusiasm which Captain Ireland-Blackburne aroused amongst these senior officers by his personality that the collection of Joint Intelligence Bureau material has been successfully initiated throughout the British territories concerned.
On returning to the Topographical Intelligence Section at General Headquarters, FARELF, in March 1948, Captain Ireland-Blackburne continued his work in a most exemplary manner in gathering the harvest from the seeds which he has sown. He has displayed outstanding initiative, energy, and organising ability in this field of work and again it is due to a very great extent to him that the collection of Joint Intelligence Bureau material has proceeded so well.
Taking into account his age and service he has carried through a difficult and unusual task in a highly meticulous manner.’

Michael Robert Ireland-Blackburne was born in Kensington on 9 January 1922, the son of Major Gilbert Ireland-Blackburne, South Lancashire Regiment, and was educated at Harrow. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade on 13 September 1941, he served during the Second World War in North-West Europe post D-Day, and was wounded in France in 1944 whilst serving with the 8th Battalion. Appointed Adjutant of the 10th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps in 1945, he subsequently transferred to the South Lancashire Regiment on 11 January 1947, and served in Malaya with the Joint Intelligence Bureau, a newly-created unit that had absorbed the responsibilities of several wartime intelligence organisations, and was responsible for economic, topographic, and scientific intelligence on an inter-service basis. He was promoted Captain on 9 January 1949, and retired, with a gratuity, on 1 September 1955. He died on 26 January 2011.