Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War O.B.E. group of five awarded to Colour-Sergeant W. A. Cole, Seaforth Highlanders

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type officer’s breast badge; 1914 Star (2144 Pte. W. A. Cole. 1/4 Sea: Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (2144 C. Sjt. W. A. Cole. Seaforth; Coronation 1953, together with a companion mounted set of five miniatures, good very fine (10) £180-£220

O.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 1 January 1951: ‘For public service in Nyasaland.’ He was a member of the Tobacco Control Commission and Native Tobacco Board.

William Alec Cole served in France with the 1/4th Seaforth Highlanders from 7 November 1914, but is not entitled to the Clasp as explained in the regimental history: ‘It was at Ecques that scarlet fever broke out, which not only kept the Battalion for a long time out of the front line, but also formed grounds for the refusal to award to its members the bar to the 1914 Star, despite the Battalion’s being shown in the Order of Battle of the first seven divisions for November 1914.’