Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An M.B.E. group of ten awarded to Major G. B. Purves-Smith, King’s Own Scottish Borderers

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; General Service 1918-62, E.II.R., 2 clasps, Malaya, Cyprus (Major G. B. Purves-Smith, MBE, KOSB, Duplicate) impressed naming; Korea 1950-53 (Major G. B. Purves-Smith, MBE, KOSB (Duplicate)) engraved naming; U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed; U.N. Medal, UNFICYP ribbon, unnamed; India Independence Medal 1947 (Major G. B. Purves-Smith, KOSB.) impressed naming, note duplicate medals, very fine and better (10) £260-300

M.B.E. London Gazette 17 January 1946.

Gavin Buchanan Purves Smith was born on 17 June 1914. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the K.O.S.B. from the Supplementary Reserve of Officers on the 17 June 1937. On 15 October 1937 he was living at 21 Calverley Park, Tunbridge Wells and officially changed his name by adding his Christian name Purves to his surname becoming Gavin Buchanan Purves-Smith.

In 1944-45 while serving as a War Substantive Captain/Temporary Major he was recommended for an MBE by Lieutenant-General Frank Mersservy commanding 4th Corps, which was approved by General Bill Slim. His recommendation reads:

‘Throughout the crossing of the IRRAWADDY at NYAUNGU by 4 Corps, the subsequent capture of Meiktila and the advance down the main RANGOON road to within 28 miles of RANGOON this officer held the post of G2(Ia) at HQ 4 Corps. He applied himself unsparingly to the task of supplying to the formations of 4 Corps all the operational intelligence they required, while at the same time handling the sometimes almost overwhelming volume of intelligence being received at Corps HQ as the result of our advance. In discharging these duties successfully he was called upon to work long hours at high pressure over a period of months.’

Gavin Buchanan Purves Smith was twice made a Lieutenant-Colonel in the period between 26 June 1945 and 31 December 1947 and was promoted substantive Major on 17 June 1950. He retired from the K.O.S.B. as an Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel on the 31 May 1960.

With copied gazette extract, recommendation and service details.