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Auction: 20003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 72

MEDALS FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE MAJOR ANTHONY JOHN SUDLOW T.D.

A biography by his family:

Tony Sudlow was born in the Midlands in March 1922. Upon obtaining his school certificate the Second World War had begun, and Tony attempted to join the RAF as a pilot, but his poor eyesight led to him enlisting in the Army, initially in the KSLI. Having been commissioned, he undertook Commando training before transferring to the British Indian Army. Tony joined 1/10th Gurkha Rifles; he was shipped out to Burma from Greenock in 1940.

He was first involved in fighting a retreating battle, eventually being driven back into Manipur, India, where the tide turned as the Japanese became over-stretched and under-supplied. He fought in the battles of both Imphal and Kohima. His close friend and fellow Company Commander James Logan "Terry" Adair was killed by a sniper as they patrolled together talking; Terry is buried in Imphal cemetery. Tony killed the sniper, whose target was literally a 50/50 choice.

Like so many of his fellow soldiers, Tony suffered from both dysentery and malaria whilst on active duty. After the Japanese surrendered he flew home in a Dakota in 1945, but was soon sent to Germany on intelligence duties involving war crimes investigation until mid-1946. He retained a fervent devotion to the Gurkha soldiers he had led and continued to serve in the TA (5th Royal Leicesters) until 1958, when he retired from all military duties to pursue a career in management in the produce industry in Lincolnshire.

Tony retired in 1977, by which time he had established himself as a medal collector specialising in the London Regiments, but his fond personal alleigance to the British Indian Army led to his collecting in that area too. He had a keen eye for the unusual, hence he acquired a myriad of oddments outside his main spheres of interest - including several awards to African soldiers. Sappers, Medics, Gunners and Drivers all played their part; Tony was keen to know their stories.

He had many dealings with Spink, and wrote a regular feature for Medals International entitled "Medallic Meanderings". His research was thorough and painstaking, centering, as was then necessary, on written enquires, phone calls and libraries. He wrote prolifically, including some unpublished books and some fine poetry. He died in 1997 after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Ann - now aged 100 - and a son and daughter. It is his family's shared wish that the items of his collection will bring to others the same pleasure as it brought to him.

CATALOGUER'S NOTE

Every now and again, a collection formed many decades ago comes back to the market to bring joy to the next generation of collectors. Having travelled up the A1 some months ago with little knowledge of quite what I might find, it was rather special to open up a number of the famous 'Spink Green boxes' - in which these following items have been carefully stored - and discover the treasures which are offered in this section.

I was greeted with a most warm (and socially distanced!) welcome and it was lovely to hear exactly how much pleasure they gave to Tony over the years. It has been a great responsibility to offer these items to the market and ensure they find good new homes for the next generation. Researching them has revealed some wonderfully gallant and varied stories which I trust will interest collectors far and wide and will enrich your collections for years to come.

Marcus Budgen, September 2020.


A Burma 1945 M.B.E. group of six awarded to Captain (Quartermaster) J. F. Macdonald, King's Own Scottish Borderers

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2nd Type, Military Division, (M.B.E.) Member's breast Badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; Burma; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., Regular Army (Lieut. (Q.M.) J. F. Macdonald. (M.B.E.) K.O.S.B.), mounted as worn, the second and third additionally engraved 'Lt QM J. F. Macdonald. M.B.E. 2/K.O.S.B.', cleaned, very fine (6)

M.B.E. London Gazette 13 September 1945. The original recommendation states:

'Lt (QM) Macdonald has given most loyal service for the past 19 years. He has rised from the Ranks with an Exemplary Record.

He has been Quartermaster of this Battalion for the past 18 months and, as such, has been recommded for a Mention in Despatches for tireless and courageous devotion to duty throughout the operations in the Arakan and at Imphal.

He is not only a great Regimental character who exercised a very beneficial influence and sets a first class example within the Battalion, but he is also well known and respected throughout the whole Bde and Division.'

John Farquhar Macdonald was one of just five members of his Battalion to serve continuously during the Second World War. The best account of his service was offered in his obituary in the Borderers Chronicle of March 1952:

'All ranks who served with the 1st and 2nd Battalions before the War will mourn the early death of Captain Macdonald. He enlisted in the Regiment on 27 October 1925 and was discharged as War Substantive Warrant Officer Class II on appointment to a Commission on 14 June 1943, as Quartermaster of the 2nd Battalion in Burma. He was promoted War Substantive Captain (Q.M.) on 15 June 1946 and was released in October 1948. He was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the M.B.E. and Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. In Borderers in Battle there is a vivid description of his bringing up supplies to the 2nd Battalion after the attack on 'Able' in January 1944, and evacuating the wounded.

He is also recorded as one of the few who completed the full circle of the 2nd Battalion's battle story in Burma. He left Ranchi with them in 1943 and returned there for V.J. Day in 1945. He was always a tower of strength and the soul of loyalty both in war and peace.'

That service at 'Able' was as part of the 200-strong echelon who came up to the front to provide vital supplies and take off the wounded. Having make the rendevous, a man set off a booby trap which set off a stampede in the mules. All the mules except one of course ran into Japanese lines and it was men like Macdonald who went to recover them. Upon leaving his unit, it was said he '...was the best the land of the heather can get'; sold together with copied research, letters and extracts.

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Sold for
£350

Starting price
£230