Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely well-documented post-War ‘Civil Division’ C.B.E., Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of seven awarded to Colonel W. J. W. Cheesman, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment and Machine Gun Corps, later Nigeria Regiment, West African Frontier Force, who was twice wounded on the Western Front. Subsequently employed by the Colonial Administrative Service throughout the inter-War years in Nigeria, he later served as Counsellor at the British Embassies in Cairo and Beirut - sold with an extensive personal archive

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with miniature width neck riband, in Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co., London, case of issue; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. W. J. W. Cheesman.); Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Nigeria, the reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Capt. Walter J. W. Cheeseman [sic], M.C., Nigeria Regt. Supp. Reserve.’, with integral top riband bar, this converted to enamel mounting; Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom, Order of Independence, Second Class set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver, gilt, and enamel, unmarked; Star, silver, gilt, and enamel, unmarked, with neck riband and lapel rosette, in Arthus Bertrand, Paris, fitted case of issue, mounted as worn, red enamel damage to central medallions on both star and badge of the Jordanian order, otherwise very fine and most probably a unique combination of awards (8) £3,000-£4,000

Warwick & Warwick, March 2003.

C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1955:
‘Lately Co-operative Adviser, Development Division, British Middle East Office, Beirut.’

M.C. London Gazette 18 July 1917:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When advancing with his machine guns, he was wounded in the face, but led his team, through a heavy enemy barrage, and put his guns into position before compelled by weakness to retire. His bravery greatly impressed his men.’

Sold with Foreign Office letter, dated 31 July 1959, confirming receipt of the Jordanian award ‘in recognition of your services as Food and Agriculture Organisation Adviser on Agricultural Co-operatives in Jordan’, but denying permission to wear the award.

Walter Jesse Wharton Cheesman was born in Hawkhurst, Kent, on 21 July 1896 and was commissioned from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, into the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment. He served with the 3rd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, attached to the Machine Gun Corps, was twice wounded, and was awarded the Military Cross.

Post-War, Cheesman transferred to the Nigeria Regiment, West African Frontier Force in 1922, and joined the Colonial Service in 1925 in Nigeria. He held various District Officer appointments, and in addition to his civilian responsibilities commanded the local Volunteer Defence Force during the Second World War. Whilst in Nigeria he became the first Registrar for inaugurating agricultural co-operatives in the country.

In 1948, Cheesman resigned from the Colonial Administrative Service due to a dispute with the Governor of the Gold Coast, and joined the Colonial Office as Commissioner for Co-operative Development in British Guyana, introducing the co-operative concept to the Caribbean. In 1950 he was raised to the rank of Counsellor, and was posted to the British embassies in Cairo and Beirut, advising the governments of the Middle East and North Africa on Agricultural co-operatives. For his services he was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1955 upon his retirement, aged 60, in 1956, and then subsequently served as United Nations representative in Amman, travelling extensively in the Middle East and giving advice at the request of various governors in countries throughout the world.

Retiring to Grantham, Lincolnshire in 1967, Cheesman died in Lincoln on 22 January 1981.

Sold with the following extensive archive:
i) Bestowal Document for the C.B.E., dated 1 January 1955; together with a copy of the Statutes of the Order of The British Empire together with press cuttings, photographs and a letter signed by Anthony Eden informing him of the the award of his C.B.E.
ii) Buckingham Palace enclosure for the Coronation Medal 1937, named to Captain Walter Jesse Wharton Cheeseman.
iii) Commission Document appointing Walter Jesse Wharton Cheesman a Second Lieutenant, dated 11 July 1915; together with a memo from the Adjutant R.M.A.S. appointing him to 3rd Battalion Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment.
iv) Letter for the investiture of the recipient’s M.C., dated 15 March 1919; together with original newspaper cuttings regarding the award.
v) A photograph album containing 115 photographs, mostly in uniform a large number of these taken in the trenches and annotated with names of individuals; together with various loose photographs, calling cards and postcards of the Great War period, mostly unsent.
vi) Diary kept by the recipient from 11 September to 3 December 1916, inscribed 2nd Lt W J W Cheesman 15 M G Coy, 5th Division.
vii) A presentation leather-tooled photograph album, the inside cover with plate inscribed ‘The Jordanian Co-Operative Central Union has the hour to present this album, which contains a collection of photographs in memory of the inauguration of the above Union on Febr 7th, 1959 to Mr W. J. W. Cheesman F.A.O. Expert of Agricultural Credit and Co-operatives, in recognition of his valuable services and advice in the establishment of the Union and the development of the cooperative movement in Jordan’. The album includes a portrait photograph of King Hussein signed ‘with our platitude and very best wishes’.
viii) Programme for a reception at Palais d'Abdine, Egypt, dated 27 December 1950; together with invitation to Monsieur et Madam W J W Cheeseman, and instructions from the Private Secretary (M W V Maude) for attending the reception.
ix) A file of documents containing Walter Cheeseman's birth certificate, school report, letter of reference for the Colonial Service, Cambridge University certificate of Education, Officer Training Corps certificate dated 1913 &c.; together with a file of family related birth, death and marriage certificates and wills.
x) Army book 152 - Field Service Correspondence book, covering the period October 1916 to May 1917; together with a note from Brigade Major dated 26 September 1916 passing on Brigadier General’s desire to express gratitude for the magnificent manner in which the captured their objectives Monday Last; Several original orders and operational and intelligence summaries; hand-written inventory of Cheeseman's kit when wounded; several original hand-written orders; and a number of original Great War Trench maps &c., some annotated.
xi) Several annotated group photographs; together with a portrait photograph of the recipient in diplomatic dress.
xii) Various Christmas Cards, including one from The British Legation, Amman, signed Sir Alex and Lady Kirkbride.
xiii) Documents relating to the recipient’s wife, including Passports and a small photograph album.
xiv) A typed service summary of the recipient’s career; together with various letters of reference for the Colonial Office; Card Refugee from Holland or Belgium dated 3 June 1940 showing him as a Civil Servant; Jordanian identity card; and other ephemera.