Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War O.B.E. group of three awarded to Major D. A. D. Sewell, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Order of the Crown of Italy

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (2.Lieut: D. A. D. Sewell. Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); Victory Medal 1914-1919 (Lieut. D. A. D. Sewell) generally very fine (3) £180-£220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 12 December 1919.

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 June 1920.

Italian Order of the Crown, Knight London Gazette 1 April 1919.

Douglas Arden Dalrymple Sewell was born at Madras, India in 1895 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 8 August 1914. Appointed Adjutant of the 7th Battalion on 26 October 1914, he served during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 March 1915, and was wounded. He was promoted Lieutenant on 10 June 1916, and subsequently served as Adjutant of the 14th Infantry Base Depot. Seconded for service with the Tank Corps on 22 January 1917, he was promoted Staff Captain on the Military Secretary’s Staff on 6 December 1918, and promoted Temporary Major on 1 May 1919. For his services during the Great War he was Mentioned in Despatches, appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and was created a Knight of the Italian Order of the Crown.

Sewell is recorded in the October 1943 Army List as Major, O.B.L.I. (Reserve of Officers), with Seniority from 29 August 1922. Having exceeded the age limit he ceased to belong to the Reserve of Officers on 18 May 1948, and died at Bournemouth, Hampshire, in 1959.