Five: Lieutenant B. N. Smith-Laing, Federation of Malay States Volunteer Force, who was taken Prisoner of War at the Fall of Singapore, 15 February 1942

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Malaya, the reverse engraved ‘Lieut. Brownlow N. Smith-Laing, F.M.S.V.F.’, first four mounted as worn, last in Royal Mint case of issue; together with the recipient’s related miniature awards, the ED a G.VI.R. first issue; and the recipient’s riband bar, good very fine and better (5) £300-£500

E.D. Federation of Malaya Government Gazette 12 May 1949.

Brownlow North Smith-Laing was born in Inverness, Scotland, on 27 September 1907 and served as a Lieutenant (acting Captain) in the Federation of Malay States Volunteer Force, whist employed by Guthrie’s in Singapore. He was taken Prisoner of War at the Fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942, and was held for the remainder of the War in various Prisoner of War camps in Thailand. He was released on 30 August 1945, and was awarded his Efficiency Decoration in 1949.

Sold with a portrait photograph of the recipient, this glazed and framed; two postcards, one of which is addressed to the recipient’s wife in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya; and the recipient’s comb, held in a silver case and engraved ‘B.N.S.L.’