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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 239

The 1917 D.S.O. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel K. A. Plimpton, East Yorkshire Regiment, who was twice 'mentioned' for his good service which included the bloody action at Barakli Jum'a, later commanding a Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps in Ireland during the War of Independence

He latterly married the actress Kathleen O'Regan, took up acting himself and became Secretary of the Garrick Club

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. K. A. Plimpton. E. York. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. K. A. Plimpton.), nearly extremely fine (4)

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

M.I.D. London Gazette 6 December 1916., 28 November 1917.

Kelburne Archibald Plimpton was born at Cottingham, Yorkshire on 12 November 1884, the son of Alexander and Margaret Plimpton. Educated at Repton he went on to study at Sandhurst and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant into the East Yorkshire Regiment on 2 March 1904.

Embarking for India in that rank on 28 December 1905 he had certainly been advanced Lieutenant by 11 April 1910 when he was reported as proceeded to Kasauli commanding a detachment of 36 men. Still in India with the 2nd Battalion on the outbreak of the Great War he was advanced Captain on 28 September 1914 and joined the returning to Britain in 1914.

Oddly Plimpton's MIC states that he entered the war in Salonica however the Battalion history does place him serving with 'B' Company in France until he was invalided for frostbite on 4 February 1915. It is unclear if this was the case however if so Plimpton would have seen some of the worst fighting of the war when the Battalion was hit by one of the first uses of gas in the war at Ypres.

Regardless he was certainly with the 2nd Battalion when they arrived at Salonica between October-December 1915, like many in that theatre they did not immediately see action. They did however suffer appallingly with malaria and dysentery due to the local climate with the number of men in hospital often outnumbering those on active duty.

When the Allies finally went on the offensive in Salonica the East Yorkshire Regiment were again present for the heaviest action, this time at Barakli Jum'a, a fortified village on the frontline. They captured it on 31 October 1916 and a little over a month later Plimpton received his first 'mention' (London Gazette 6 December 1916 refers).

Appointed the Battalion Machine Gun Corps officer Plimpton was again 'mentioned' (London Gazette 28 November 1917 refers) and was advanced Brevet Major in that role on 3 June 1918. As the role of the Machine Gun Corps continued to charge he was appointed the Corps Machine Gun Officer for XII Corps a role which saw him promoted Lieutenant Colonel in July 1918.

The Bulgarian Armistice on 30 September 1918 saw him posted to command a Machine Gun Corps Battalion in 1919 which was to serve in Ireland during the War of Independence. Put on retired pay on 20 August 1921 he married actress Kathleen O'Regan who appeared on both stage and screen including the Alfred Hitchcock film Juno and the Paycock in June 1926. After which began to split his time between Britain and the United States

Because of this his list of clubs appears somewhat unusual serving as Secretary of the Miami Beach Golf Club and Managing Director of the Ox Ridge Hunt and Polo Club. As well as being the Secretary of the Downe Golf Club, Kent and the Garrick Club. An article in the Liverpool Daily Post on 31 May 1926 quotes on his short lived acting career, stating:

'Her husband Lieut.-Colonel Kelburne Plimpton, D.S.O. is so tall and good looking that he once was selected to play the hero in a screen version of one of the novels of Mrs. Glyn. And as Mrs. Glyn likes to choose the casts when her stories are filmed, Colonel Plimpton must have closely approached her idea of what one of her wonderful heroes looked like. He has other and greater claims to notice - he served for nearly twenty years in the East Yorkshire Regiment, was twice mentioned in despatches, formed and commanded a machine-gun corps to serve in Dublin during "the trouble," and is a notable polo player and golfer.'

Sold together with copied research including newspaper articles. Amy lists, MIC as well as handwritten research.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£800