A fine post-War ‘Civil’ O.B.E., Inter-War ‘Military’ M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Allbones, Lincolnshire Regiment, who was decorated as an intelligence officer in Northern Ireland and was later recognised for his recruitment work with Northern Command

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1917; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. F. W. Allbones); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued, mounted court style for wear, very fine (7) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals - The Property of a Gentleman.

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O.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 1 January 1952:
‘Chief Recruiting Officer, Northern Command, York, War Office.’

M.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 3 June 1924.

Frank William Allbones was born in Lincoln on 18 August 1892 and was educated at Heighington Endowed Elementery School from 1906 to 1909. Taking initial employment as a junior bank clerk, he was appointed to a commission in the Lincolnshire Regiment as Second Lieutenant on 10 December 1915. Posted to the 8th Battalion from 18 September 1916, he witnessed extensive service in France and Flanders, most notably at the Second Battle of the Scarpe from 23 to 24 April 1917 whilst under the command of Major D. Davies-Evans. Serving as part of 37th Division, the 8th Lincolnshire Regiment lost 2 officers and 20 other ranks killed, with 102 men wounded and 14 missing in action, whilst attempting to attack Greenland Hill and the Plouvain-Gavrelle Road (”The Black Line”). According to the 1928 Gradation List of Officers of the British Army, Allbones returned home following this engagement, almost certainly on account of wounds.

Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette of 22 May 1917, he was raised Captain in the 8th Battalion on 24 September 1917 and was appointed Battalion Adjutant from September to October 1918. He survived the war and was later specially employed as Intelligence Officer in Northern Ireland from April 1923 to January 1924 - valuable work which was later recognised with the award of the Military M.B.E. in the King’s Birthday Honours List. Advanced Lieutenant-Colonel, Allbones died at his home, White Gate, Washingborough, in February 1966.

Sold with the recipient’s original M.I.D. Certificate, framed and glazed bestowal document for M.B.E., and copied research.