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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 715

(x) An outstanding 'Special Air Service' B.E.M. group of nine to Major (Quarter Master) H. Marjoram, Royal Signals, who was decorated for 'Special Duties' work as part of the Cyprus Volunteer Force during the Second World War, before serving over a year in the S.A.S. including the post-war Operation 'Doomsday' and later in other British Special Forces

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st type (2321758 Sgt. Hubert Marjoram. R. Sigs.), officially engraved naming; General Service 1918-62, 4 clasps, Palestine, Palestine 1945-48, Malaya, Cyprus (2321758. L. Cpl. H. Marjoram. R. Sigs.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Regular Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R, 1st type (2321758 W. O.Cl.2. H. Marjoram. R.Sigs.), mounted swing-style as worn, with the recipient's Royal Corps of Signals cap badge and brass shoulder-strap badges, and a 'double-issue' General Service Medal 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (Lt. H. Marjoram. R.Sigs.), which is confirmed by his service papers, very fine, scarce combination (10)

B.E.M. London Gazette 12 October 1943:

'For specially meritorious service of a high standard in the discharge of special duties superior to his ordinary duties under circumstances of specially trying character, in as much as his ability and zeal enabled him to train and lead a line section of CVF personnel with no technical training whatever, to the point where they have been able to take the place of a trained section of Royal Signals personnel and carry out the building of vital communications in a highly satisfactory manner. The good work he has done continues with the formation of another Line Section, making a total of 128 British Other Ranks released for service elsewhere.'

Hubert Marjoram was born at Leiston, Suffolk on 20 August 1913. He enlisted into the Royal Corps of Signals at Colchester on 24 September 1931, giving his trade as 'butcher'. Gaining a 3rd Class Certificate of Education on 12 December that year, he completed Driver Instruction on 31 August 1932, qualifying as a Linesman GP Class III (Driver) on 25 March 1933. Promoted to Lance-Corporal (unpaid) on 10 January 1935, he embarked H.T. Atheria at Southampton on 8 January 1936, bound for Egypt. Arriving at Alexandria on 19 January, he rose to substantive rank five days later and was assigned to 'B' Section, 5th Divisional Signals. He served in Palestine from 9 June, qualifying for the 'Palestine' clasp, before embarking at Haifa on 23 January 1937 and reaching Southampton on 4 February that year.

Transferring to the 1st Division Signals, Marjoram sailed for India per H.T. Lancashire on 8 January 1938. Disembarking at Karachi on 29 January, he was immediately assigned to Meerut District Signals. He advanced to Corporal on 2 February 1938, and Lance-Sergeant on 31 August 1939. On 24 September that year he was granted Long Service Pay. Marjoram served in the Deccan district at the start of the Second World War, specifically at Trimulgherry. He qualified as a Parachutist on 22 June 1940, and was injured on active duty on 16 July 1940. He embarked with the 5th Indian Division at Bombay on 24 August 1940, arriving at Port Sudan on 20 September. Promoted to Acting Sergeant on 8 January 1941, he was posted to the M.E.F. Base Depot School, Egypt on 21 June 1941. Despite being admitted to 63 General Hospital on 21 February 1942, he served as a Sergeant attached to Cyprus Volunteer Force during 1942-43. His 'Special Duties' work at Famgusta, Cyprus earned him an unusual B.E.M., for which he was recommended by the Commanding Officer of the Cyprus Volunteer Force. He was posted to 61 Divisional Signals on 24 March 1944.

Marjoram was posted to 2nd S.A.S. on 21 August 1944. His 2nd S.A.S. entry in his service record is signed off by Captain & Adjutant Alexander Arthur Nesling, 2nd S.A.S. (who received a Norwegian award for his work in World War II). Following parachute training he joined the newly-formed S.A.S. Brigade, formed on 24 September 1944 from the British 1st and 2nd S.A.S. (made up of 845 men), the French 3rd and 4th S.A.S. and the Belgian 5th S.A.S. This Brigade was tasked with parachute operations behind the German lines in support of the Allied advance through France. It then deployed to Norway on 12 May 1945 as part of Operation 'Doomsday', charged with ensuring German compliance to the terms of surrender. Assigned to the 1st Airlanding Brigade which occupied the Norwegian capital Oslo, Sergeant Marjoram was part of the Signals Section of the S.A.S., earning extra pay for Para Duties. This was one of the first post-war S.A.S. operations; the S.A.S. Brigade was disbanded shortly afterwards. Marjoram finally returned to England on 30 August. He married Edna Olive Fletcher on 28 September 1945, and was placed on the Married Establishment.

Posted to the 1st Airborne Divisional Signals on 18 November 1945, he embarked for Palestine on 24 March 1946, arriving there on 1 April with the 6th Airborne Divisional Signals. On 23 December he was appointed Section Quartermaster-Sergeant. He returned to England on 17 August 1947, and was assigned to 63 HQ Signal Regiment, a Territorial unit, on 1 September 1948. At this time Marjoram coached the Royal Signals rugby team, leading it to the semi-finals of the Army tournament. The team unfortunately lost to the 8th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, the eventual winners. Marjoram was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 2 October 1950. He then joined another elite unit, 16th Airborne Divisional Signals (Middlesex Yeomanry TA) on 13 August 1951. He completed a Balloon Despatchers' Course, qualified as a Parachutist, and was promoted to Warrant Officer Class I on 1 April 1952. He served briefly with the Singapore District Signal Regiment from 16 December 1952, receiving the 'Malaya' clasp to his General Service Medal.

Commissioned as a Lieutenant in his own Regiment on 19 April 1954, 3GHQ Signal Regiment M.E.F. proceeded to Cyprus with Operational Party 3, 6 H.Q. Signal Regiment on 11 November 1954. He returned to the U.K. on 20 October 1955, and rose to Captain on 11 October 1956. He served with 16th Independent Para Brigade Signal Squadron from 23 January 1958. Promoted to Major on 11 October 1962, he retired on 19 August 1978, residing at 3 Lincoln Way, Spalding, Lincolnshire. Marjoram died at Milton Keynes on 24 November 1989; sold with medal confirmation, service papers and copied research.




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Sold for
£1,900

Starting price
£950