Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Captain S. Makepeace, North Staffordshire Regiment

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine, M.I.D. oak leaf (5044046 Sjt., N. Staff. R.) official correction to service number; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; together with a North Staffordshire Regiment Depot Medal, bronze, unnamed, good very fine and better (6) £600-700

Stanley Makepeace enlisted into the North Staffordshire Regiment at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 4 March 1925. With the 2nd Battalion, prior to the war, he served in Gibraltar, 1930-32; Northern Ireland, 1932-35 and Palestine, 1936-38. As a Sergeant serving in Palestine, he was mentioned in a despatch from the General Officer Commanding The British Forces in Palestine and Trans Jordan, dated 7 April 1938. The citation reads:

‘Your name has been brought to my notice for coolness and gallantry in action during the recent operations against armed bands in Northern Palestine. I thank you for the example of courage you gave, which was in accordance with the fine traditions of your Regiment and contributed largely to the success of the operations. I have directed that a note of your conduct should be made on your Record of Service and have also brought your name to the notice of the Army Council. I congratulate you on your gallant behaviour in difficult circumstances.’

Service in the Second World War followed; the 2nd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment serving in France and Belgium, 1939-40; North Africa, 1943; Italy, 1943-45, and Palestine, 1945-46. Makepeace having attained the rank of Company Sergeant-Major was commissioned a Lieutenant in January 1941 and later attained the rank of Captain. At his discharge Captain Makepeace was awarded the ‘King’s Badge’ indicating a possible wound or disablement associated with the war.

With original Army School of Physical Training Diploma; M.I.D. certificate (mounted on card); M.I.D. citation (mounted on card); commission document 1941, in envelope addressed to him at ‘69 Leichhardt Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia’; certificate of service; Ministry of Pensions forwarding slip for the King’s Badge and six photographs of the recipient as civilian, N.C.O. and officer; together with copied research.