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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 146

Three: Major L. E. Beckles, Army Printing and Stationery Service

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut. L. E. Beckles. A.P.S.S.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major L. E. Beckles.), extremely fine and rare to unit (3)

Leslie Edward Beckles was born at Watford, London on 15 February 1886. The 1911 census shows him working as 'a clerk in a Discount House'. He served in France as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Printing and Stationery Service from 4 February 1915, and was advanced to Lieutenant on 8 April 1916. The main task of the A.P. & S.S. was the printing and distribution of manuals, regulations, orders, and training and intelligence pamphlets. Commanded by Colonel S. G. Partridge, the unit expanded to 900 personnel operating from three printing presses at Boulogne, Abbeville and Le Havre. In February 1915, the press at Le Havre churned out 250,000 copies of a pamphlet called: CDS 312 - Prevention of frost bite or chilled feet. Secret documents were printed at night, under the personal supervision of the officer in charge. Deadlines were often very tight. For example, 15,000 copies of the manual SS 406: Precautions necessary when firing rifle grenades were printed by the Boulogne section during the night of 15 April 1916, and distributed among front line troops the following morning. For such services, Beckles was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette, 15 June 1916, refers). His medals were sent to 66 Whitcomb Street, London and he died in 1975; sold with copied research and MIC.


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Sold for
£220