Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

A Korea B.E.M. group of eight awarded to Staff Sergeant J. R. Andrews, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, late Royal Army Service Corps and Essex Regiment
British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 2nd issue (T/6028520 Cpl. John R. Andrews, R.A.S.C.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (6028520 L Cpl J R Andrews RASC); Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (6028520 Cpl. J. Andrews R.E.M.E.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style, together with related riband bar, lacquered, very fine

Pair: Private T. H. Andrews, Royal West Surrey Regiment
British War and Victory Medals (27742 Pte. T. H. Andrews. The Queen’s R.); together with a silver A.R.P. badge, very fine (10) £400-£500

B.E.M. London Gazette 29 April 1952.

The Recommendation, dated 27 September 1951, states: ‘Ever since 26 Field Ambulance landed in Korea in November, 1950, Corporal Andrews has been employed as the Senior Vehicle Mechanic of the unit. During this period no Ambulance cars have ever been delayed on the road through mechanical failure and the loss of vehicles through mechanical breakdowns has been one of the lowest in the 29 Brigade. This fine record has been almost entirely due to the untiring efforts and skill of Corporal Andrews who has on many occasions worked day and night in every condition of extreme cold and wet to keep the vehicles on the road. Completely without thought of self his conduct has been an example to all and has been worthy of the best traditions of his Corps.’

John Richard Andrews was born in Poplar, London on 23 September 1923 and attested for the Essex Regiment (Territorial Army) on 5 August 1940 while giving his trade on enlistment as ‘Fitter’. He was discharged in the rank of Private on 2 May 1943 on reenlistment into the Royal Army Service Corps on a modified Regular Army Engagement, serving with them in North West Europe from 3 July 1944 until 22 September 1946 when he embarked for Palestine with the R.A.S.C. to join the Middle East Land Forces, he finally transferred to the Army Reserve, Section B, on 3 November 1947.

Andrews was recalled for service in Korea on 9 August 1950, sailing on the ‘Empire Pride’ as a newly promoted Corporal on 1 October 1950 and landing at Pusan the following month. Tasked with keeping the ambulances running to the front day and night to bring the wounded out of the line despite the extreme cold, Andrews gave an interview to the London Advertiser regarding his service in Korea:
‘I was attached to the 26th Field Ambulance as a unit fitter, the front was up near the Manchurian border, and away we went. And it was cold! The temperatures were very low. We had 37 degrees of frost on the coldest nights…I had petrol pumps and carburettors right solid with ice.’

He was awarded the B.E.M. in 1951 for his untiring efforts and skill in keeping the unit’s vehicles maintained. He also received a certificate from Lieutenant-General H. C. H. Robertson, Administrative Commander British Commonwealth Forces in Japan and Korea, stating the following:
‘Your devotion to duty has been brought to my notice. I wish to thank you for your valuable services, and by the issue of this certificate to signify to you my appreciation of the fine example you have set. I have given instructions that a note of your devotion to duty shall be made in your record of service.’

Serving until 15 February 1952 when he was once again transferred to the Reserve, Andrews was presented with his B.E.M. by the G.O.C.-in-Chief, Eastern Command, at a ceremony at the Tower of London on 21 October 1952. He died on 12 October 1997 in Harlow, Essex.

Theodore Henry Andrews, John’s father, was born in 1880 at St. George’s, East London, and served during the Great War with The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment).

Sold with the following related items and documents relating to John Richard Andrews: Regular Army Certificate of Service booklet; Soldiers Service and Pay Book, original and replacement copies; Soldier’s Release Book Class A; Record of Service Form, relating to period 1940-47; Record of Service Form, relating to period 1950-52; original B.E.M. citation; B.E.M. award notification letter from REME/RAVC Record Office, signed and dated 22 May 1952; forwarding slip for Korea medals bearing recipient’s name and sent to ‘Mr J. Andrews, 23 David House, St. Leonards Rd., Poplar, London. E14’; named Buckingham Palace enclosure for the B.E.M. signed ‘Elizabeth R’; Korean War Service Medal together with miniature in plastic case; two small boxes of assorted uniform buttons, cap badges and pin badges; A.R.P. cap badge; the recipient’s two official identity discs; a quantity of foreign banknotes; a Korean War themed silk handkerchief; South Korean flag, 93cm x 60cm; B.E.M. presentation ceremony invitation letter; General Service Medal 1918-62, named box of issue and M.O.D. forwarding letter; album containing approximately 40 photographs relating to the recipient’s service in Korea, many captioned; a large number of photographs, many captioned, relating to service in North Africa 1943, Holland 1944, Germany 1945, Holland and Belgium 1945, Egypt 1946, Palestine 1947 and more; B.E.M. Royal Mint case of issue; an album of cuttings, letters, certificates, testimonials, references and other ephemera relating to the recipient’s military service and later life; a hardback copy of ‘Marks of Courage’ by Ashley Cunningham-Boothe; An O.B.E. diamond jubilee commemorative plate.