Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part II)

Five: Corporal P. Cipriott, King’s Own Malta Regiment

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Malta (633 Cpl., K.O. Malta R.), very fine or better and very rare (5) £400-500

Peter Cipriott was awarded his “Malta” G.VI.R. Efficiency Medal in 1942 - one of less than 350 such awards - and added a Bar to it in 1947, thereby becoming one of only 36 such men to achieve a similar accolade.

Born in July 1909, Cipriott had originally attested for the King’s Own Malta Regiment in November 1931. He gained steady advancement over the coming decade, attaining the rank of Lance-Sergeant in the 1st Battalion in November 1940, but, in March 1942, at the height of the siege of the “George Cross Island”, he was deprived of his new found status for ‘allowing his Guard to turn out in a slovenly manner’ and being absent on the same occasion. Cipriott’s service record - a copy of which is included - also verifies his Efficiency Medal (A.O. 229 of 1942) and a first Bar (A.O. February 1947), in addition to the above described campaign award entitlement. Although discharged as a Corporal in April 1946, Cipriott appears to have re-enlisted in his old regiment as a Private in January 1953.