Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-war military C.B. and Second World War military C.B.E. group of nine awarded to Major-General Eric Stuart Cole, Royal Corps of Signals, who played cricket for Egypt and Kent in the 1930’s.

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck cravat and evening collar, in Collingwood, London case of issue; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck cravat, in case of issue; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (Capt., R. Signals); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1953, these unnamed, medals mounted as worn, good very fine (12) £1200-1600

Eric Stuart Cole was born in Malta on 10 February 1906, where his father was then stationed as bandmaster of the Royal Sussex Regiment. He was educated at Dover Grammar School and Sandhurst. Entering the Army, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Signals on 3 September 1925 and advanced to Lieutenant in September 1927. During the 1930’s he served in Egypt and played cricket for the Egypt National Team during 1930-35. He played cricket for the ‘Army’ during 1935-37, and for Kent in 1938. In the Army he was promoted to Captain in September 1936 and in 1938 he was Montgomery’s chief signal officer with 88th Division Signals operating in Northern Palestine. With the outbreak of war, his unit was part of the B.E.F. sent to France and became Adjutant, February 1939-March 1940. Shortly before the German offensive he became Acting Deputy Chief Signals Officer to I Corps with the rank of Acting Major. During the evacuation from Dunkirk he commanded the signals party which remained with the Corps H.Q. until it was finally evacuated. He was wounded on the evacuation beach. For his services at this critical time he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 20 December 1940). He was promoted to War Substantive Major in July 1941; Major in September 1942; Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, April-July 1941; Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel, July 1941-January 1942; War Substantive Lieutenant-Colonel, April 1942; Acting Colonel, July 1941-January 1942; Temporary Colonel, April 1942-April 1944 and September 1944-May 1948; Acting Brigadier, April-October 1945, and Temporary Brigadier, October 1945-November 1946. During this time his communications expertise was used to the full and he was involved in planning communications for the Normandy invasion. He took part in the invasion as Chief Signals Officer of I Corps, and was sent forward on D+7 to take command of the signals in the 6th Airborne Division. In September 1944 he was moved to the roll of Deputy Chief Signals Officer at Allied Forces H.Q. under the command of Field Marshal Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, then in December to that of Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander. For his services in the Italian Campaign he was awarded the C.B.E. (London Gazette 13 December 1945). In April 1945 he was posted to Athens as part of the British Land Forces Greece. In 1946 Cole was appointed Chairman of the Joint Communications Board. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in July 1946, Colonel in February 1947 and Brigadier in January 1954. By January 1958 he was at Supreme H.Q. Allied Powers Europe as Deputy Chief Signals Officer and became Director of Telecommunications at the War Office with the temporary rank of Major-General, in April 1958, receiving substantive promotion to that rank in August 1958. Major-General Cole retired from the Army in 1961 having been awarded the C.B. in the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 1960. He was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Corps of Signals, 1962-67. After his retirement from the Army he held positions in a number of electronics firms. He died on 19 December 1992.

Sold with two riband bars and three ‘Dover County School for Boys’ sports medals, two in silver, one in bronze, all named and dated 1923. With some copied research. See lot 910 for another medal to the ‘Cole’ family.