Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War B.E.F. 1940 operations D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel H. A. Tyler, Royal Artillery

Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R. 1st issue, silver-gilt and enamels, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1940’; 1914 Star, with clasp (2 Lieut. H. A. Tyler, R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Major H. A. Tyler); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals, mounted as worn, the Great War awards somewhat polished, nearly very fine, the remainder good very fine or better (7) £2000-3000

D.S.O. London Gazette 20 August 1940. The original recommendation states:

‘As C.R.A. during the final withdrawal at Bergues, he handled his guns admirably. Their fire into a hostile bridgehead near Bergues was so accurate and severe that the enemy was pinned to the ground and failed to follow up the rearguard closely. Throughout the withdrawal from the Cassel area to Dunkirk, Lieutenant-Colonel Tyler showed great tactical ability and the continual support of his guns was quite invaluable.’

Henry Alexander Tyler, who was born in September 1892, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in December 1912. Embarked for France with the Royal Field Artillery in August 1914, he was wounded a few weeks later and evacuated to the U.K., but returned to active service in March 1915, and was advanced to Lieutenant and appointed an Adjutant in the same year. Promoted to substantive Captain in December 1916, he was mentioned in despatches for operations in the same year (London Gazette 4 January 1917 refers), and ended the War in the rank of Acting Major. Having then served once more as an Adjutant in the period December 1922 to December 1925, he was advanced to Major in June 1931, while serving in a similar capacity on attachment to the Territorials, and took up appointment as an Instructor in Gunnery at the School of Artillery in October 1936. Ordered to join 2nd Division after the renewal of hostilities, he was actually attached to 46th Division at the time of the above cited deeds.

Sold with the recipient’s silver cigarette case, the initials ‘H. T.’ engraved on the front lid, together with a Field Service Postcard, dated by him on 19 August 1914 (’I am quite well’), and two letters from him to his sweetheart, later wife, Mary Powles, with A.P.O. dates 22 March 1916 and 28 April 1918; and old photographic copy of the newspaper entry announcing their engagement.