Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Civil Division’ M.B.E. group of ten awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. A. Branch, Chief of Police, Leeward Islands, late Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and Durham Light Infantry, who was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal for saving life on Anguilla in November 1931

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; 1914-15 Star (410906 Pte. J. R. A. Branch. P.P.C.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. J. R. A. Branch.); War Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Lt. Col. John R. A. Brnach.’, lacking integral top riband bar; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Captain J. R. A. Branch. 20th. Nov. 1931.) with integral top bronze riband buckle, the first nine mounted court-style as worn, the last loose; together with the related set of nine miniature awards (omitting the RHS Medal), the ED again lacking integral top riband bar, these similarly mounted, polished and worn, with almost all the gilding rubbed from the ED, therefore good fine and better (10) £600-£800

M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1941: John Reginald Arthur Branch, Esq., Superintendent of Police, Leeward Islands.’

John Reginald Arthur Branch was born in St. John’s, Antigua, Leeward Islands, on 24 June 1894 and was educated at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Initially attesting for the 1st Universities Company, 38th Battalion, Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Montreal on 17 February 1915, he served with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry during the Great War on the Western Front from 31 July 1915, before being commissioned temporary Second Lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry on 25 October 1916. Promoted Lieutenant, he was wounded on the Western Front on 23 September 1918.

Following the cessation of hostilities, Branch returned to the Leeward Islands, and served with the Islands’ Police, ultimately rising to the rank of Chief of Police. For his gallantry in saving life at sea off Anguilla on 20 November 1931 he was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal (R.H.S. Case no. 51,083), and was created a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1941 New Year’s Honours’ List.