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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 232

A notable inter-War O.B.E., Great War M.C. group of five awarded to Captain F. S. Richards, Royal Engineers, a long-served 'Egypt hand' who commenced his wartime career in the Topography Section at G.H.Q., Cairo, an appointment that found him working alongside the likes of T. E. Lawrence in the secretive Arab Bureau

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.), Civil Division, Officer's 2nd type breast Badge, silver-gilt; Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. F. S. Richards, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. F. S. Richards), very fine (5)

O.B.E. London Gazette 11 May 1937.

M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

Francis Shakespeare Richards was born in Burton upon Trent on 27 March 1886, the son of a master butcher.

Commissioned on the General List after the outbreak of hostilities, he commenced his wartime career on the staff of G.H.Q., Cairo, in December 1915, namely as a Lieutenant in the Topography Section. Given that T. E. Lawrence was then responsible for supervising map production, among other intelligence duties, it is apparent the two men must have been known to each other, for the former did not depart Cairo until March 1916.

This 'topographical intelligence' proved essential for military operations in the region, containing as it did, anything from the contours of the land to railway lines and water sources. Such intelligence was derived from a variety of sources, including aerial reconnaissance and agents in the field. In a nod to Richards' future employment after the war, much of the resultant map production was published in collaboration with the Survey of Egypt.

Subsequently, he was awarded the M.C. in respect of his gallant and distinguished services in Egypt in the 7th Field Survey Company, R.E., which specialised in just such mapping and intelligence work. He was also mentioned in despatches by General Sir Edmund Allenby (London Gazette 16 January 1918, refers).

Following the Armistice, Richards joined the Survey of Egypt at Giza, Mudiria, and published a Note on the Age of the Great Temple of Ammon at Karnak in 1921.

He subsequently rose to be Director of the Survey's Technical Services in the mid-1920s, when he was awarded the Order of the Nile, Third Class (London Gazette 12 October 1926, refers). Later still - and having been appointed Deputy Surveyor-General to the Egyptian Government - he was awarded the O.B.E. and the Order of Ismail (London Gazette 7 August 1936, refers).

Returning to Burton upon Trent on his retirement, Richards died there in January 1964, aged 77; sold with original War Office forwarding letter for his M.C.

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Estimate
£700 to £900

Starting price
£550