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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 381

A Burma Operations O.B.E. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. McCutcheon, Indian Army Ordnance Corps, later Royal Army Ordnance Corps, who was further 'mentioned' for services in South East Asia during 1945-46

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military), 2nd Type breast Badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (Lt-Col. J. McCutcheon. O.B.E. I.A.O.C.), minor official correction to surname, very fine (5)

O.B.E. London Gazette 6 June 1946. The original recommendation states:

'This Officer over the period March 1944 to May 1945 was DADOS/ADOS Corps Tps 33 Corps. During this time, he not only performed his duties with outstanding zeal and ability and frequently did his own job and that of DADOS HQ. Ord working for long hours in adverse conditions to produce that state of efficiency which I demanded of him. He has always given of his best and worked far beyond the call of duty. The ordnance efficiency within 33 Corps was largely due to his efforts and example. He gave me loyal cooperation and backing in every possible way.'

M.I.D. London Gazette 26 June 1947 (The Netherlands East Indies prior to 30 November 1946).

John McCutcheon was commissioned in 1942 and served with the Indian Army Ordnance Corps during the Second World War. From 3 April 1944-27 May 1945, 33 Corps travelled a distance of 27,127 miles from Jorhat to Rangoon, liberating some 55,500 square miles of enemy-held territory.

The Corps had the task of halting the northern-most Japanese drive at Kohima, following the reopening of the land route to Imphal; by continuous action through the 1944-1945 monsoons the Japanese 15th Army were driven back across the Chindwin, from where the drive to the Irrawaddy was launched culminating in the capture of Mandalay on 19 March 1945.

Operating south of the line of the Irrawaddy, the Corps cleared the Oilfields Area around Yenaugyaung to link with the troops pushing north from Rangoon on the 15 May 1945.

McCutcheon transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and relinquished his commission on 2 July 1959.

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Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£420