Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1917 ‘Western Front’ D.S.O., 1916 M.C. group of ten awarded to Brigadier R. N. Rashleigh, Royal Artillery, who was awarded the D.S.O. for gallantry at Metz-en-Couture on 4 April 1917, and subsequently commanded the 7th Home Guard Anti-Aircraft Regiment during the Second World War

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914 Star, with copy clasp (Lieut: R. N. Rashleigh. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major R. N. Rashleigh.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (Major R. N. Rashleigh.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1918, with silver star emblem on riband, the medals all silver-dip polished, light contact marks, nearly very fine or better (10) £1,600-£2,000

D.S.O. London Gazette 27 July 1917. Awarded for gallantry at Metz-en-Couture, 4 April 1917.
The Recommendation states: ‘On April 4th 1917 during an attack on the enemy’s positions, finding he could not follow the course of the battle from his Observation Position, Major Rashleigh, on his own initiative, went forward with a telephonist to close behind the front line of the attacking infantry. From this position and under heavy machine gun and shell fire he directed the fire of his battery and greatly facilitated the advance. For two hours he was under heavy fire in the open 500 yards from the enemy position. In addition to directing the fire of his battery he was able to telephone back several invaluable reports on the situation. Major Rashleigh has at all times set a fine example of courage, energy and devotion to duty.’

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1916.

French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 21 July 1919

Reginald Nicholas Rashleigh was born on 29 April 1888, the son of Paymaster-in-Chief G. V. Rashleigh, Royal Navy, and was educated at Churcher’s College, Petersfield, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in 1907, and was promoted Lieutenant on 23 July 1910. He served with the Royal Field Artillery during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 August 1914, and was promoted Captain on 30 October 0f that year, and Major on 11 July 1917. He subsequently served in Italy from November 1917 to July 1918, and for his services during the Great War he was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 1 January 1916 and 14 December 1917), and was awarded the D.S.O. and M.C., the former for gallantry at Metz-en-Couture on 4 April 1917. He saw further service post-War in Iraq from 1919 to 1920, and served as Adjutant from 9 January 1922 to 6 January 1925.

Advanced Colonel on 5 August 1938, and promoted Brigadier on 2 September 1939, Rashleigh served as Commander, Royal Artillery with the British Expeditionary Force during the Second World War, before retiring with the honorary rank of Brigadier on 1 July 1940. He subsequently joined the Home Guard, and from 1941 to 1944 commanded the Mistley Company of the 9th Essex Battalion, formed by men from the villages of Wic, Bradfield, the Bromleys, Mistley, Ardleigh, Manningtree, and Lampford. On 1 April 1944 he was appointed to the command of the 7th Home Guard Anti-Aircraft Regiment, a position he held until the cessation of hostilities. He died in Essex in 1964.

Sold with the recipient’s original bestowal document for the D.S.O., dated 26 July 1917; and various copied research.