Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Second World War C.B.E. group of eight awarded to Colonel J. N. Oliver, Devonshire Regiment (Territorials) and Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, who masterminded the ‘gigantic and intricate undertaking’ of traffic movement in Southern England in the lead up to D-Day and beyond
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; Coronation 1953; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., Territorial, with three Bars, the reverse of the Decoration officially dated ‘1942’ and the reverses of the Bars ‘1951’; United States of America, Legion of Merit, Officer’s breast badge, gilt and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘John N. Oliver’, with its case of issue, including lapel badge and riband bar, mounted as worn where appropriate, good very fine (10) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards for the 1939-45 War.

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C.B.E. London Gazette 19 October 1944.

American Legion of Merit 3 December 1945. The original citation states: ‘Colonel John N. Oliver, Devonshire Regiment, British Army, Anglo-American Movements Committee and Assistant Quarter-Master General for Movements, Southern Command, from September 1943 to August 1944, distinguished himself by his careful planning of traffic through the United Kingdom to ports of embarkation. By his outstanding performance of duty and relentless pursuit of every detail in connection with this gigantic and intricate undertaking, he developed a traffic network which was the mainspring and life line of the movement of equipment and supplies by rail and highway throughout Southern England. Colonel Oliver’s assistance of the Transportation Corps, United States Army, and his unselfish devotion to the expeditious deployment of United States troops and supplies constitute a shining model of Allied co-operation which continued in the invasion of France and the Low Countries.’

John Neville Oliver was originally commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (Territorials) in June 1925, and had risen to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel with command of the Battalion by the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939. Remaining similarly employed until August 1942, he next attended a Senior Staff Course at Staff College, Minley Manor, in August 1942, following which he was appointed Assistant Quarter-Master Q (Movements) and Colonel Q (M) Movements by Sea Section, the beginning of his pivotal role in planning and running transportation for the colossal build-up of troops and equipment in Southern England, in preparation for the Normandy landings - and he commenced his work at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in September of 1943. A little under a year later, he was emplaned for North-West Europe, where he continued in his work right until the end of hostilities. Post-war, Oliver reverted to the Territorials and was appointed a half-Colonel in 628 Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery in May 1947, in which capacity he gained advancement to Colonel in August 1950. Having then been transferred to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers, he was recalled as an Hon. Colonel to the 4th Battalion of his old regiment, the Devonshires, in September 1958, once more reverting to the Retired List in December 1953

Sold with the recipient’s original C.B.E. warrant, dated 19 October 1944, American Legion of Merit certificate of award, dated at Washington on 3 December 1945, and related citation, on White House notepaper, signed by Truman, all of these framed and glazed.