Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A well documented Second War group of six awarded to Signalman H. J. Stanley, Royal Signals, who was twice Mentioned in Despatches for his services in the Middle East

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, with two [sic] M.I.D. oak leaf emblems; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Militia, with Second Award Bar (2339063. Sigmn. H. J. Stanley. R. Sigs.) mounted as worn; together with the related miniature awards, the Efficiency Medal a Territorial issue without the Second Award Bar, light contact marks, very fine and better (6) £300-£400

M.I.D. London Gazette 24 June 1943:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period 1 May to 22 October 1942.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 13 January 1944:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.’

Henry ‘Harry’ James Stanley was born in Belfast on 20 April 1913, and was employed by the General Post Office Telephones on vehicle maintenance. Like many of his colleagues, he joined the local Royal Signals T.A. unit, and attended annual camp at Portstewart, Co. Antrim. Whilst there in 1939 War was declared, and the unit was posted overseas. In December 1939, whilst in France, he was injured by shrapnel and returned to Northern Ireland for a short period of recuperation.

Upon recovering, ‘Harry decided that there was no way he was going to have to rely on the army’s BSA motorcycle – he would have thought them crude, slow, painful to ride (Bloody Sore Arse) and unreliable. So, if he was going back to war, he was going to take with him his trusty Norton! This combination proved to be a formidable force. How on earth he managed to gain permission to transport his bike, we have absolutely no idea. However, he was not a man that accepted ‘no’ for an answer!’ (family recollections refer).

Posted to the Middle East in 1941, Stanley became a Despatch Rider on General Montgomery’s Staff, carrying messages to the front line on his trusty Norton, and for his ‘gallant and distinguished service’ was twice Mentioned in Despatches. He saw further service in north-west Europe post-D-Day, and having been posted to Montgomery Trench Mortar Section in Belgium, was reputedly in Berlin on V-E Day (family recollections refer). After the war, he returned to his employment with the General Post Office, and also re-joined the Royal Signals T.A. in Clonaver Camp, Belfast, again in moth transport, where he was advanced to the rank of Staff Sergeant with 66 Signal Regiment, finally retiring in 1968. He died on 20 April 2004.

Sold with the following archive:

i) The recipient’s two Mentioned in Despatches Certificates, dated 24 June 1943 and 13 January 1944, these both mounted on card
ii) The recipient’s Soldier’s Service and Pay Book; Certificate of Attestation; and Service Papers
iii) A Union Flag, approximately 7ft in width.
iv) A Presentation Pewter Tankard, inscribed ‘Presented by HQ. Squadron to S/Sgt. Stanley 40th (U) Signal Regt, 1968’
v) A photograph album compiled by the recipient during the Second World War, the majority of the photographs from his period in the Middle East, the pages loose; together with various other photographs and postcards, including two of the recipient on his wedding day.
vi) Various riband bars, buttons, and unit insignia
vii) Various Royal Signals and British Legion Membership cards, official programmes, and other ephemera.