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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 255

(x) The 1958 O.B.E. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel E. A. Hutchings, South Lancashire Regiment

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Officer's (O.B.E.) breast badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., with E.II.R. Bar, the reverses officially dated '1949' and '1956', mounted a worn, together with a S.S.A.F.A. '10 year' lapel badge, the reverse inscribed, 'Lieut. Colonel E. A. Hutchings, OBE. TD. Joined 1950', very fine or better (7)

O.B.E. London Gazette 12 June 1958. The original recommendation states:

'During the first year of the return to an entirely volunteer Territorial Army, Lieutenant-Colonel Hutchings has raised the volunteer strength of the rank and file of his battalion from 129 to 187. In doing so, he has taken considerable trouble to enlist recruits of a high quality and to replace elder and less enthusiastic volunteers.

He has achieved this in a difficult recruiting area, largely by his personal efforts and infectious enthusiasm. Although his private business has been going through a difficult period, he has, without hesitation, devoted far more time and energy to his battalion than might reasonably be expected, even if a Commanding Officer.

This recruiting effort was in advance of, and therefore without the resources being made available for the National drive. At the same time, he has very much improved the standard of training in his unit and has won the Liverpool Cup - a competition open to all infantry units of this Division.

In camp this year he was able to muster an entire platoon of recruits and to put them through a most realistic and imaginative course of training. In grappling with the challenge to rebuild the Volunteer Army he has shown outstanding resource and energy and has achieved remarkable results.'

Edward Arthur Hutchings was C.O. of the 4th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment at the time of being recommended for the O.B.E., a component of 125 Infantry Brigade (T.A.). He had earlier been awarded a Bar to his Efficiency Decoration (London Gazette 9 March 1956, refers) and transferred to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers as a Lieutenant-Colonel in September 1958.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£200 to £300

Starting price
£160