Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Brigadier N. D. Rice, The Buffs, an ‘old contemptible’ who was later mentioned in despatches for Malaya

1914 Star, with clasp (2.Lieut., E. Kent R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major, The Buffs); Defence and War Medals; Coronation 1937, together with companion set of miniature medals, the G.S.M. with additional clasps for ‘South-East-Asia 1945-6’ and ‘Malaya’, both sets mounted as worn, the first three polished, otherwise nearly very fine or better (14) £300-350

Neil Dewar Rice was born on 14 September 1894, and educated at Tonbridge School. He entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1913 and was gazetted to the East Kent Regiment as 2nd Lieutenant on 15 August 1914. He served in France and Belgium from 30 September to 25 October 1914, April to June 1915, December 1916 to August 1917, and November 1917 to November 1918, being promoted Lieutenant in 1915 and Captain in 1917.

After the war he joined the 2nd Battalion and proceeded to India in November of that year, to Mesopotamia in 1920, and thence to Aden in 1922. On returning to England with the Battalion in 1923, he was at Portland and then at the Depot at Canterbury, before being seconded to the Royal West African Frontier Force in 1927, where he commanded the 2nd Bn. Nigerian Regiment in Kano. He was awarded a Brevet Majority in 1932, and promoted Major in 1935. He returned to the Depot for a second tour of duty in October 1932, and then served with the 2nd Bn. at Bordon and Pembroke Dock. In 1937 Rice commanded the contingent of forty-three men that represented the Regiment at the Coronation of King George VI. He accompanied the Regiment to Palestine and had temporary command of the Regiment for 3 months in 1939. This completed his Regimental career, as he was called back to West Africa in 1940, being promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, and then Brigadier in that year.

In West Africa he served successively as Commander Gambia Area and Commander Gold Coast Area and 5th West African Infantry Brigade. In 1943-44 he commanded East Suffolk Sub-District and later went to Allied Land Forces, South East Asia. He subsequently served in Malaya and was mentioned in despatches, London Gazette 13 December 1949, for his services there in the period January to June 1949. He is also entitled to two additional clasps to his General Service Medal for S.E. Asia and Malaya. Brigadier Rice retired in 1950 and died at Aldershot on 6 August 1969.