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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 355

A M.B.E. group of five awarded to Major J. D. Peterkin, Highland Light Infantry, later Senior Federal Counsel in the Federation of Malaya and Legal Advisor to the Sultan of Perak

Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, members M.B.E. Military Division Badge, silver; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medal 1939-45; Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, good very fine (6)

M.B.E. London Gazette 21 June 1945

John Dysart Peterkin was born in 1916. Having attended the Vale of Leven Academy he went on to study Law and Economics at the University of Glasgow, winning the Queen's Medal in Forensic Science in the process. Commissioned Second Lieutenant with the Highland Light Infantry on 15 February 1941. Peterkin served on the staff of the Deputy Provost Marshal J. N. Cheney O.B.E. joining them during the preparations for D-Day. After the invasion the Deputy Provost Marshal and his Staff were posted to Headquarters of 12 Line of Communications Signals, Royal Signals. When Brigadier Cheney was appointed Provost Marshal to General Montgomery with 21st Army Group, Peterkin went with him. They remained in this role until late 1945 when Peterkin, who was serving with the rank of Temporary Major with the British 2nd Army, left to take up a role within the Legal Division of the Military Government in Germany. Appointed Magistrate within the Control Commission for Germany from 24 September 1946-2 August 1950. During this time he also acted in the capacity of a Coroner and was also 'called to the bar' of Middle Temple in January 1949.

Peterkin joined the Colonial Legal Service in 1951 taking the position of Senior Federal Counsel in the Federation of Malaya, sitting on both criminal and civil courts for Federal and State Governments. While in Malaya he also served the Sultan of Perak as a Legal Advisor. Peterkin continued in these positions until retiring and taking up a role as Legal Assistant with the Board of the Inland Revenue, serving from 28 April 1958-21 December 1959. He voluntarily left the Revenue but did take on one more role before his death, becoming Adjudicator of Immigration Appeals on 1 March 1970. Peterkin died in 1984 in Stratford.

Sold together with a quantity of original documents, letters and photographs including his M.B.E. conferral certificate, letters from his commanding officer and peers recommending him for further work and photographs of him in uniform as well as copied research including a London Gazette entry and career details.

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Sold for
£450

Starting price
£140