A post-war O.B.E. and Second War ‘Salerno’ M.C. group of nine attributed to Colonel P. R. Sawyer, Hampshire Regiment

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type; Military Cross, G.VI.R. the reverse with some rubbing and unofficially dated ‘1944’, 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, with 1st Army bar; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1953; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., Territorial, reverse dated ‘1947’, with four additional service clasps, dated ‘1951’, ‘1952’, ‘1957’, ‘1963’, generally good very fine and better (9) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Hampshire Regiment.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 1957.

The following is extracted from the original recommendation:

‘Lieutenant Colonel Sawyer has commanded the 4th Bn The Royal Hampshire Regiment (TA) with considerable distinction for over two years. In spite of his heavy civilian commitments he has devoted an exceptional amount of time and effort to his battalion.
Largely due to his personal effort his battalion has maintained a high standard of administration in addition to an excellent record of active and valuable training. Moreover the keenness and success of the 4th Battalion in competition shooting has been marked.
Lieutenant Colonel Sawyer takes a most active interest in recruiting and has maintained, especially in quality, a praiseworthy standard having regard to the possibilities of his territorial area.’

M.C. London Gazette 21 December 1944.

The following is extracted from the original recommendation, which was originally for the award of a D.S.O.:

‘After the landing at Salerno on 9 September 43, Major Sawyer, who was commanding “A” coy was responsible in a large measure for reforming the Bn successfully after a very confused fighting in the beach area. At one time on 9 Sept: when all officers and many O.Rs of Bn HQ had become casualties. He reorganised the headquarters under heavy fire from enemy tanks and by his example and energy, restored confidence in the Bn area.

During the R.Volturno operations between 13 – 22 Oct ’43, Major Sawyer again led his coy successfully and showed remarkable coolness and efficiency as a leader in close contact with the enemy.

During the Ornito-Cerasola operations between 4 – 13 February 1944 the Bn was ordered to advance over the mountains at night and relieve another unit which had suffered heavy casualties and was being counter attacked on Mt Ornito. The situation was most indefinite, the conditions very difficult and the men tired. Major Sawyer led the leading coy forward under shell fire with great skill over un-reconnoitred ground and without guides and took over successfully in close contact with the enemy.

During the next few days his coy bore the brunt of the enemy counter attacks and almost continuous shelling. Throughout the operations in which the Bn took part in Italy, Major Sawyer was in the forefront leading his men in every action.

Previously he served continuously with the Bn from Jan 1943 to the end of the N. Africa campaign and took a leading part in the well known actions at Sidi N’Sir, Pichon and Bou Arada.’


M.I.D. London Gazette 24 August 1944 ‘... for gallant and distinguished services in Italy.’

The following is extracted from a contemporary newspaper obituary:
“Echo” Staff Reporter Col. Peter Ross Sawyer OBE, MC. TD, JP, FRIBA, DL, well known throughout Hampshire as an architect and for his distinguished record as a Territorial fighting soldier has died aged 60.
He was deputy lieutenant for Hampshire in 1972 and was honoured in 1962 by his appointment as Aide-de-Camp TA to the Queen. He was awarded the OBE (military division) in 1958.
His Army career began when he was commissioned to the 4th Territorial Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment in 1933.
For most of the war he served with the 5th Battalion The Royal Hampshire Regiment. Out of 167 officers of the battalion he alone remained with them throughout their many actions in North Africa, Italy and Greece. He was awarded the MC while company commander of the battalion at the Battle of Salerno in south Italy in September 1943.
He became commander of the 4th battalion TA from 1955 until 1959 when he was made deputy commander of the 128 Hampshire Infantry Brigade, a position he held until 1963.
Col. Sawyer combined his civilian career as a chartered architect and his close links with the Army when he designed the Royal Hampshire Regiment memorial in Southgate Street, Winchester.’



Sold with the following original documentation:

i) Named bestowal certificate for 1953 Coronation Medal ‘Major P. R. Sawyer, M.C., T.D.’

ii) Named enlosure letter for 3rd clasp to Efficiency Decoration, dated 15.1.1957.

iii) Signed letter from Lord Mountbatten of Burma on his personal note paper: ‘My Dear Peter, I send you congratulations on your new appointment and a special warm welcome to the ranks of Her Majesty’s aides-de-camps. Yours very sincerely, Mountbatten of Burma’

Withdrawn