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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 723

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendent

A most unusual 1966 'Brunei Special Police' O.B.E. group of eleven awarded to Pehin Datu Permakawi Diraja Dato Seri Pahlawan Commissioner G. E. 'Peter' Coster, Royal Brunei Police, late Flight Lieutenant, Royal Air Force and Federation of Malaya Police

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast Badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (A.S.P. G. E. Coster. F. of M. Pol.); Colonial Police Meritorious Service Medal, E.II.R. (George E. Coster, Asst. Commsr., Brunei Police.); Brunei, Sultanate, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal, 1st Class; Coronation Medal 1968, gold; Merit Medal, bronze, reverse named 'G. E. Coster 1958'; Malaysia, Federation, Pingat Khidmat Berbakti, silver, mounted court-style as worn, good very fine and almost certainly a unique combination (11)

O.B.E. (Civil Division) London Gazette 1 January 1969 - Head of Special Branch, Royal Brunei Police Force.

C.P.M. (Meritorious) London Gazette 1 January 1966 - Assistant Commissioner, Brunei Police Force.

George Edwin Coster - or 'Peter' to his friends and comrades - was born on 9 January 1924 at Hendon, Middlesex and was educated at St. Marylebone Grammar School, St. John's Wood. At the outbreak of the Second War he was evacuated with his schoolmates to Redruth, Cornwall and was housed by the Bank Manager of Portreath, joining the local Home Guard. Having excelled at languages and modern history, Coster attended Wadham College, Oxford before being commissioned into the Royal Air Force. Completing his training in Canada, Coster returned to fly Beaufighters in Europe but the fall of the Third Reich saw him posted to Transport Command in India, flying DC3 Dakotas and training upon glider tugs at the time of the end of the war in the Pacific. His final missions were to repatriate prisoners of war from Burma and return them to Singapore.

Malay Police

Taking leave and establishing a small commercial airline out of Hong Kong, this didn't 'take off' and Coster soonafter took up a posting in the Special Branch of the Federation of Malay Police in time for the Emergency. This role offered plenty of opportunities, including a Commendation for his part in the recovery of the body of Sir Henry Gurney, the British High Commissioner who had been ambushed and murdered on Peter's Hill, 6 October 1951.

Brunei - Head of Special Branch

Coster took up a contract with the Brunei Police in 1963, appointed Assistant Commissioner initially in the Special Branch. In this role he totally revolutionised and reorganised the unit, succeeding to become Head of Intelligence and Security to the Sultan. His work was clearly appreciated by the Sultan, who showered him with decorations and appointed him to the Privy Council, with Coster made Pehin Datu in 1973. He retired in 1980 and died in October 2014.

Sold together with a most complete archive of original material comprising:

(i)
Bestowal document for the O.B.E., in its transmittal envelope, together with a copy of the Statues of the Order and enclosures.

(ii)
Royal Air Force Transport Command Pilot's Card, issued on 5 October 1946, with corresponding 'Green Card', dated 24 October 1946, Far East Detachment, Kai Tak.

(iii)
Government of Hong Kong Pilot's Certificate and Licence, No. 60, dated 16 June 1948.

(iv)
Malaysia Civil Aviation Department Licence, No. 173, dated 21 March 1967.

(v)
Letter commending Coster for his part in bringing in the body of Sir Henry Gurney, dated 16 November 1951, from W. N. Gray, Commissioner of Police, Kuala Lumpur.

(vi)
Five Brunei Service Medals, as awarded to the recipient, but not approved for official wear with his mounted group.

(vii)
Large set of documentation for the bestowal of his Bruneian Orders and Medals, including approval to wear from Buckingham Palace.

(viii)
Appointment to Brunei Privy Council, dated 2 July 1973, with seals and signatures of the Sultan.

(ix)
The recipient's cloth flag, with fittings as used, bearing his award and symbols denoting rank, as approved to be flown.

(x)
A quantity of photographs charting civilian and military scenes throughout his career, including the Royal Visit including Prince Philip besides numerous scenes with the Sultan of Brunei.

(xi)
A quantity of rank insignia, buttons, badges and buckles for wear.

For the recipient's miniature dress medals, please see Lot 1177.

For the recipients awards (and that of his wife) from Brunei, please see Lots 1281-1285.

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Sold for
£2,300

Starting price
£1500