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Auction: 16001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 233

A Fine and Thoroughly-Documented 'Operation Overlord' Bronze Star Group of Eight to Lieutenant-Colonel A.W. Reed, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Late East Surrey Regiment
British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. A.W. Reed.); Defence and War Medals; Jubilee 1935; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., silver and silver-gilt, reverse officially dated '1945', with Second Award Bar, officially dated '1951', this loose on riband, and integral top 'Territorial' riband bar, with original Royal Mint case of issue; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R. (Cmdr. Arthur W. Reed.); United States of America, Bronze Star, reverse officially engraved 'A.W. Reed', with original case of issue, traces of lacquer, nearly extremely fine, mounted court-style for wear, with the following and extensive related archive of material:
- The recipient's associated miniature awards
- Field Compass, dated '1939', by J.M. Glauser, London
- The recipient's Great War officer's shoulder belt and pouch, the gold-laced belt having ornate gilt buckle, tip, and slide, the leather pouch flap bearing the crowned GR cypher, together with a waist-belt and side cap both bearing the insignia of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and other related leather accoutrements
- An attractive carved fob seal, bearing the crest of the Reed family, accompanied by a painted crest in a contemporary glazed frame
- The recipient's monocle
- Original Documents for Commissioning as Second Lieutenant and Lieutenant
- Official Citation Document for the Bronze Star
- Second War issue identity tags, these impressed 'Maj AW Reed CE 71846'
- Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Hampshire and Dorset District Operation Overlord Document
- Numerous photographs of the recipient throughout his career
- An archive of documents and letters accumulated during the career of the recipient (lot)

T.D. London Gazette 13.12.1945 Maj. (T/Lt.-Col.) A.W. Reed 71846, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

T.D. Second Award Bar London Gazette Maj. (Hon. Lt.-Col.) A.W. Reed, T.D., 71846, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

United States of America, Bronze Star London Gazette 23.5.1947 Lieutenant-Colonel (Temporary) Arthur Weston Reed, 71846, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The citation states: 'Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Weston Reed, British Army, for meritorious service in connection with military operations, as Assistant Director of Mechanic Engineers, Headquarters, Hants and Dorset District, from 13 September 1942 to 10 September 1944. Lieutenant-Colonel Reed was responsible for the cooperation between the British Royal Electrical personnel in the Center Zone. Through his efforts all available knowledge in connection with the operation Overlord was made available to the United States personnel. The valuable technical experience of Lieutenant-Colonel Reed was of inestimable service to the United States Ordnance and contributed greatly to the efficiency with which the American part of the operation Overlord developed and was fulfilled. The outstanding services rendered by Lieutenant-Colonel Reed reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Allied Forces.'

Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Weston Reed, T.D., born Clapham, London, May 1897; educated at Alleyn's School, Dulwich; commissioned Second Lieutenant, East Surrey Regiment, 8.8.1915, with whom he served during the Great War on the Western Front; promoted Lieutenant, 1.7.1917; wounded, 21.8.1918; demobilised, 11.11.1919; commissioned Lieutenant, 4th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (Territorial Army), 15.10.1920; promoted Captain, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, 5.7.1937; transferred as Major to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, 1.10.1942.

"Operation Overlord"
The personal documents of Reed date from April-September 1944, and place him as Colonel in Chief for 'REME Services- Repair & Recovery'. The focus for this branch of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was the essential waterproofing of the vehicles set to land on 'D-Day' and the recovery and repair of tanks from the field. Their work was clearly considered intrinsic to the success of "Overlord", as a paper of 4.4.1944 marked 'Top Secret' states 'The enemy knows that preparations are going forward and he will stop at nothing to obtain all the information he requires. DO NOT JEOPARDISE THE LIVES OF YOUR COMRADES. KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.' Following the success of the Operation, a paper marked 'Confidential' and dated 21.9.1944 gives the exact scale of the work of Reed's men. To 12.9.1944, a total of 5,060 tanks were repaired and returned to unit, whilst a total of 273 miles of insulating tape was employed to ensure that the damage to vehicles due to water loss was ten times less than had been expected. On 26.4.1946, Reed was awarded his Bronze Star by Colonel Claude M. Thiele, Commanding Officer of the United States Army, London Area.

Following his Army career, Reed served for over 25 years with Joseph Lucas Limited, a British manufacturer of motor industry and aerospace components; died, Cheltenham, 31.5.1984.

His eulogy reports of his career, including his success against a Russian Grand Master and exploits upon the cricket field, finishing with Reed's favourite saying 'Ye rigid Ploughman; bear in mind your labour, is for future hours, advance, spare not, not look behind, plough deep and straight, with all your powers.'

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