Lot Archive
Four: Attributed to Lieutenant-Colonel H. Lacy, O.B.E. (Civil), M.B.E. (Military), Royal Artillery, later Chief Design Officer at the War Office Armament Design Department, Principal Inspecting Officer at Woolwich Arsenal, Assistant Director of Artillery at at the Ministry of Supply, and latterly a Director of the British Aircraft Corporation (Guided Weapons) Limited
1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for wear, very fine (4) £60-£80
O.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 11 June 1977: Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Lacy (Retd.), M.B.E., lately Director, British Aerospace (B.A.C.).
M.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 10 June 1954: Major (now Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary) Harry Lacy (222157), Royal Regiment of Artillery.
Harry Lacy was commissioned into the Royal Artillery as a Second Lieutenant on 19 December 1941, and was advanced Major on 2 April 1949. He retired on 1 April 1955, and was granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. An un-attributed obituary of the recipient states:
‘Lieutenant-Colonel Lacy, who was educated at Burnley Grammar School and the University of London, began his career as a technical college lecturer in mathematics. He left a reserved occupation in 1939 to join the Army, rising from the ranks to win a commission in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, and was later granted a regular commission. From 1939 to 1945 Lieutenant-Colonel Lacy served with the Royal Regiment of Artillery at home and overseas, subsequently joining the technical staff course at the Royal Military College of Science, where he qualified as a technical staff officer in 1946. Later the same year he was appointed Chief Design Officer at the War Office’s Armament Design Department, Fort Halstead, and became Principal Inspecting Officer for the Chief Inspector of Armament at Woolwich Arsenal in 1948. From 1950 to 1953 he was Assistant Director of Artillery at Ministry of Supply Headquarters, and in 1954 was appointed Senior Technical Officer, Trials Establishments, Royal Artillery, at Ty Croes, Anglesey. In 1955 Lieutenant-Colonel Lacy joined Vickers Limited as Chief Technical Adviser to the Armament Department and joined British Aircraft Corporation on its formation in 1960. From 1955 to 1960, he was associated with the development of the Chieftain tank and Abbot self-propelled gun, both projects now being in service with the British Army. He had also been concerned with the development of the Vigimant anti-tank weapon system since the initiation of the project in 1957. On 13 February 1968 Lieutenant-Colonel Lacy was appointed a Director of the British Aircraft Corporation (Guided Weapons) Limited.
Sold with over 25 original photographs, in several of which the recipient is identified, including 124th Officer Cadet Training unit Christmas party invitation addressed to Capt. & Mrs Lacy, several original portrait photographs of the recipient in uniform, a number of named Royal Artillery group photographs, including one of 22 War Gunnery Course, December 1942 - May 1943, named group photo of 124 O.C.T.U. R.A. A.A. Regimental Soccer team, 1943-44, including Capt. Lacy and an original print of his obituary which includes a photograph.
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