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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 379

The impressive 'Ministry of Defence' C.B., C.B.E., M.V.O. group of nine awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. Newling, Royal Artillery, late Royal Air Force and 11th Battalion, London Regiment, who was later Under-Secretary for the Ministry of Defence

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Civil Division, (C.B.) neck Badge, silver-gilt; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2nd Type, Civil Division, (C.B.E.) neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Royal Order Victorian Order, Member's (M.V.O.) breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. A. J. Newling.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., with three further Award Bars, two engraved to the reverse '1951', mounted as worn where applicable, overall very fine (9)

Provenance:
Phillips July 1997.

C.B. London Gazette 2 January 1950.

C.B.E. London Gazette 8 June 1944.

M.V.O. London Gazette 3 June 1933.

Alfred John Newling was born at West Bridgeford, Nottinghamshire on 11 January 1896, the son of John and Eliza Newling of Charworth Road, West Bridgeford. Educated at Nottingham High School and Latymer Upper School, Newling later attended Jesus College Cambridge. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant from the Cambridge Officers' Training Corps on 27 January 1916, he served in France with the 11th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles) from 12 July 1916. Later transferring to the 1/5th Battalion, this unit saw heavy fighting on the Somme, later being engaged during the retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the Hundred Days campaign.

Attached to the Royal Air Force as 2nd Lieutenant (Technical), Newling attended 1 (7) Wireless School and was later posted to No. 45 Training Depot School. Demobilised on 23 March 1919 he was sent to the Unemployed List the next month. With wartime service behind him and his degree complete, Newling joined the Civil Service, being appointed an Assistant Principle to the War Office in 1921 and later taking on the role of Private Secretary to Sir Herbert Creedy, the Permanent Under Secretary of State between 1923-24. He is recorded around this time as living at Beverly, Epsom, Surrey.

Throughout this period he was still serving with the Territorial Army, being promoted Major and on 25 February 1936 he was posted to the Anti-Aircraft Brigade. Later promoted Lieutenant-Colonel (1938) he was appointed to command the 12th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. Working as Financial Adviser (Army) to the Chatfield Commission on the Indian Defence Secretariat between 1938-39, Newling was mobilised upon the outbreak of the Second World War. Appointed Joint Secretary to the Army Council Secretariat in 1941, he served with them until 1946. That year he became Under-Secretary for the Ministry of Defence. Newling lived in Lewes, Sussex and died there on 18 August 1957. Notably his brother was awarded the Military Cross in 1918 and his nephew the D.F.C. in 1941, being sadly killed in action in the process; sold together with copied research comprising extracts from Who Was Who, 1951-1960 and the London Gazette as well as Service Records, M.I.C. and photographs as well as probate records, two copies of the recipients will, an old auction invoice and handwritten research.

For the recipient's miniature dress medals, please see Lot 470.

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Sold for
£850

Starting price
£700