Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine, M.I.D. oak leaf (564 1.B. Sjt. J. L. Otway, Pal. Police) clasp bent; together with a mounted set of four miniature dress medals: Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry, G.VI.R., 1st issue; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine, M.I.D. oak leaf; Defence and War Medals, mounted as worn, good very fine (6)
£100-140

Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry London Gazette 27 January 1939. ‘James Loftus Otway, Sergeant, Palestine Police Force.

With a copied newspaper clipping with the obituary of James Otway. Entitled, ‘Army Police Hero Dies aged 57’, it reads, ‘A Cheam man who won medals for gallantry as a police officer in the Colonial Police Force died on Sunday from wounds he received in the line of duty. Mr James Otway, of 45 Wrayfield Road, had been decorated with the King’s Police Medal for gallantry and bar and the King’s Colonial Police Medal for gallantry, to which had been added three bars. While serving in India, he was mentioned in 22 dispatches for his bravery and courage. He was forced to return home nine years ago because of wounds received in Cyprus during rioting. He was made Keeper of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London until he recently became seriously ill. ... London born Mr Otway, who was 57, spent all his working life in the Forces. He first joined the Canadian Mounties but, after a few years, was bought out by his father, who wanted him to become an officer in the British Army. In 1928, when he was 16, he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers and saw service in India. Four years later, he switched to the Palestinian section of the Colonial Police Force. In 1941 he went to Aden where he married his wife Mary, who was serving in Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps and matron of the hospital in Aden. When he was transferred to Cyprus, Mrs Otway had to spend a year working in a South African hospital as wives were not allowed to go with their husbands. ... Mr Otway later went to the Persian Gulf countries of Kuwait, Bahrein and Quater (sic). He was invalided home in 1960 and put in charge of all the security measures for the White Tower where the Crown Jewels are housed. He was remembered for never carrying a gun while on police duty. ....’

With a riband bar as for the miniature group above and with a ‘Palestine Police O.C.A.’ Badge, silver and enamel, pin-backed. See lot 1152 for another group to the ‘Otway’ family. Note: M.I.D., K.P.M. and bars to gallantry medals not confirmed.