Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Burma 1945’ O.B.E. and ‘1937 North West Frontier’ immediate M.C. group of eight awarded to Colonel H. S. D’Arcy-McArthy, 3rd Gurkha Rifles

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge; Military Cross, G.VI.R. reverse officially dated 1937; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (Lt. H. S. D’Arcy-McArthy, 1-3 G.R.); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (Capt. H. S. D’Arcy-McArthy, 1-3 G.R.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court style as worn, toned, extremely fine (8) £2,000-£2,600

O.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 8 February 1945: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma and on the Eastern Frontier of India.’

M.C. London Gazette 26 November 1937: ‘For gallant and distinguished service in action on the North West Frontier of India 1937.’

Full details of the action for which this M.C. was awarded are given in the Indian newspaper The Statesman, dated October 24, 1937:

‘Wounded Officer Leads Counter-Attack. Military Cross Won On The Frontier.
How a British officer, though shot through the wrist and subjected to intense sniping, successfully organised a counter-attack and evacuated his company from a narrow ridge, the only exit from which was along a steep knife-like edge, is described in a communiqué which announces the immediate award of the Military Cross to Captain H. S. D’Arcy-McArthy of the 1st Batt., 3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles, for conspicuous gallantry during the present operations on the North-West Frontier.

The Commander-in-Chief has also approved the immediate awards of the Military Cross to Jemadar Panchsuba Gurung of the Sirmoor Rifles, and of the Indian Order of Merit (2nd Class) to Subedar Ganja Singh Gurung and Lance Kaik Dud Gurung (killed in action) of the same unit as Capt. D’Arcy-McArthy. The following details accompany the announcement:

Military Cross, Captain H. S. D’Arcy-McArthy, 1st Battalion, 3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles.
At the Sirdar Algad on September 27 “A” Company, of which Captain D’Arcy-McArthy was in command, was the forward company of the battalion. The position was on a long, narrow ridge terminating in a plateau with cliff-like edges, the only exit from which was along a steep knife-edge. The position was dominated at close range in front and on one side and the company was sniped intermittently throughout the day.
As the time for withdrawal approached, the sniping became more intense and two men were hit. These were got away. but a third was wounded just as the withdrawal was to commence.
Captain D’Arcy-McArthy was able to send this man away but, while waiting, became pinned to his position; he organised such efficient counter-fire that his forward positions (with which he was with himself) were able to leave.
But crossing the knife-edge, two more men were hit and Captain D’Arcy-McArthy immediately led a counter-attack to re-occupy the original position. As the troops regained it, they drove the enemy off the top and, had the counter-attack not been instantaneous, heavy casualties would undoubtedly have occurred.
When the withdrawal was resumed, casualties were again sustained, Captain D’Arcy-McArthy being hit through the wrist. In spite of his wound he again led the counter-attack, and the wounded were safely removed.
By this time, covering fire had made itself felt and the position was at length safely evacuated, it was not till then that Captain D’Arcy-McArthy left his company too have his wound seen to.
Throughout the action he showed a magnificent example of gallantry, leadership and soldierly qualities, and it was entirely due to him that casualties to a serious extent did not occur.’

Hugh Stanley D’Arcy-McArthy was born on 7 June 1904, and educated at the Modern School, Mussoorie, India, 1911-13, Abbey School, Beckenham, 1914-18, Dover College, 1918-22, and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, 1923-24. He was commissioned into the Royal Artillery as a Second Lieutenant on 28 January 1927, and on the following day transferred to the Indian Army, joining the 1st Battalion, 3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles. However, during 1928-30 he remained attached to 12/20 Mountain Brigade R.A. at Quetta and on the North West Frontier.

From 1930-31 he served with 3 G.R. in suppressing the Red-shirt rebellion on the North West Frontier, and from 1932-35 he was Adjutant of the Battalion. He was promoted to Captain on 28 January 1934. In 1935 Captain D’Arcy-McArthy was awarded the Silver Jubilee medal but, according to his own modest account, the only reason he received it was because he was a golfing partner to the Governor of Madras, and he tactfully chose not to wear it to avoid antagonising more senior officers who did not get it.

D’Arcy distinguished himself in the North West Frontier operations of 1937, when the Army was in action against the Mahsud and Waziri tribesmen of Waziristan, who had been stirred up by the Faqir of Ipi. Captain D’Arcy-McArthy received an immediate M.C. for his role in a gallant rear-guard action during the campaign.

In 1939 he attended the Staff College, Quetta, and following the outbreak of the Second World War, he served in a number of staff posts, as Brigade-Major of 218 Infantry Brigade in the U.K. (1940-41), D.A.Q.M.G. at Basra, Iraq (1941) and Assistant Secretary of the War Cabinet Office (1942-43). He was promoted to Major on 28 January 1942. Later in 1943, he was given another operational post as second-in-command of 4/10 Gurkha Rifles in Ceylon, and from September 1943 to July 1944, he commanded 3/3 Gurkha Rifles in Burma. Thereafter he returned to staff duties as G.S.O. 1, 23 Indian Division (1944-45), A.A.G. Southern Command (1945) and A.A. and Q.M.G. Madras (1945-47). He was awarded the O.B.E. in February 1945 for his services when commanding 3/3 G.R. in Burma.