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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 493

The unusual campaign group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel B. L. M. Tomlinson, 4th (Prince of Wales Own) Gurkha Rifles, who served attached to the Australian Forces in Papua New Guinea; he returned and briefly Commanded his unit Burma, before being 'mentioned' for the S. E. Asia 1945-46 campaign

India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (Capt. B. L. M. Tomlinson 1-4 G.R.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; War and India Service Medals 1939-45, minor official correction to surname on first, otherwise very fine (5)

Basil Lothian Murray Tomlinson was born on 7 August 1910 at Manitoba, Canada, the son of Basil Murray Tomlinson and Esme Mary Maud (Bonham-Carter) Tomlinson. Educated at Clifton College and Trinity College Oxford, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 4 February 1933, Unattached List Indian Army. Tomlinson joined the 1st Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles in March 1934, spending three years on the North West Frontier before he was seconded to the Political Department in 1937.

Re-joining the Battalion in April 1942, Tomlinson attended Staff College, Quetta before joining the 2nd Australian Imperial Force, where he served in New Guinea attached to the 18th Infantry Brigade. He re-joined the Battalion in October 1944, being Second-in-Command during the Battalion's advance across the Irrawaddy. He briefly Commanded the Battalion Colonel Mackay was wounded. Recalled to India in February 1945, he took command of the 3rd Battalion which sailed for Malaya as part of 'Operation Zipper'. Tomlinson served in the Netherland East Indies in 1946 for which he was 'mentioned'. He retired on 20 December 1948 and died at Guildford in 1982; sold together with a bound folder of research including copy photos, letters from Gurkha officer colleagues of Tomlinson giving a precis of his service, a copy of his will and copies of his service papers and reviews.


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Sold for
£480

Starting price
£170