Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The original D.S.O. warrant to Major-General V. Blomfield, Border Regiment, who was decorated for his gallant leadership of 71st Brigade in France in the summer of 1944, in the name of ‘Valentine Blomfield, Esquire, Lieutenant-Colonel (Temporary Brigadier) in Our Army’, dated 1 February 1945, in good overall condition £60-80

Valentine Blomfield, who was born in March 1898, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Border Regiment April 1916 and witnessed active service in France and Belgium in the periods August 1916 to April 1917, and April to November 1918, and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 9 July 1919 refers).

Having then witnessed further action during the Waziristan operations 1921-24 (Medal & clasp), he was serving as Major on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, shortly after which he won a second “mention” for his gallantry with the B.E.F. in France (London Gazette 20 December 1940 refers).

Appointed to the temporary rank of Brigadier in October 1942, while employed at the War Office, Blomfield returned to operations as C.O. of 71st Infantry Brigade, 53rd Division, 12 Corps in the summer of 1944, and was recommended for the award of the D.S.O. in the following terms:

‘Since his arrival in France, Brigadier Blomfield has commanded his Brigade with outstanding ability and success. The Brigade has recently been engaged in a series of operations the continual success of which is largely due to his coolness, organisation, leadership and personal example. He is quite imperturbable and has the ability of inspiring those around him with the same quality.’

Blomfield attained the rank of Brigadier-General in August 1945.