Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War civil M.B.E., Great War ‘Palestine, 1917’ M.M. group of five awarded to Private H. A. Chapman, 2/22nd (County of London) Battalion (The Queen’s) London Regiment, later Acting Staff Officer, Air Ministry, Royal Air Force

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver, in Royal Mint case of issue; Military Medal, G.V.R. (682088 Pte. H. A. Chapman. 2/22 Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (4705 Pte. H. A. Chapman. 22-Lond. R.); Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued, in box of issue, extremely fine (5) £500-£700

M.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 10 June 1954: ‘Harry Albert Chapman Esq., M.M., Higher Executive Officer, Air Ministry.’

M.M. London Gazette 4 February 1918.

Harry Albert Chapman was born in Bournemouth, Hampshire in 1897 and raised in Southwark, London. During the Great War, he attested for the 2/22nd (County of London) Battalion (The Queen’s), London Regiment and was deployed with them to Salonika, disembarking 13 January 1917. Having participated in various actions, including the Battle of Doiran, 22 April - 9 May 1917, his battalion was sent to join the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in June 1917 for Allenby’s upcoming Palestine campaign.

Chapman was awarded the Military Medal for bravery on the battlefield in Palestine in 1917, the 2/22nd London Regiment seeing action at numerous actions in the period including the Third Battle of Gaza and the Capture and Defence of Jerusalem. In 1918 his battalion was present at the Capture of Jericho, the first and second Trans-Jordan raids and the Battles of Meggido. Ending the war at Jaffa, he remained in theatre until August 1919.

After the war, Chapman embarked on a Civil Service career in the Air Ministry. During the Second World War, he served as an Acting Staff Officer in the Department of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Air and in the Home Guard from 3 February 1943 to 31 December 1944. He was awarded the Coronation Medal in 1953 and an M.B.E. in 1954 for his services with the Air Ministry. He died in 1966.

Sold with the following archive:
i) two postcard photographs of the recipient in uniform during Great War in the Middle East. The second taken in Egypt showing the recipient together with 3 others in uniform mounted on camels with Sphynx and pyramids in background - also another copy of this second photograph enlarged and contained in metal tube.
ii) 2 Great War identity tags, impressed ‘H. A. Chapman C.E. 682088 Ldn Regt.’
iii) Named Home Guard certificate of service with dates of service.
iv) Named Buckingham Palace enclosure for Coronation Medal 1953.
v) Warrant for M.B.E.
vi) 10 Downing Street headed paper letter of notification of M.B.E. award.
vii) Central Chancery invitation to M.B.E. investiture at Buckingham Palace.
viii) quantity of letters of congratulation on award of M.B.E.
ix) The Times and London Gazette of 10 June 1954, both containing recipient’s M.B.E. announcement.
x) Air Ministry Orders of 1 July 1954 containing recipient’s M.B.E. announcement.
xi) Miniature M.B.E. medal in Spencer & Co. fitted case.
xii) 8 photographs of the recipient and family on day of Buckingham Palace M.B.E. investiture.
xiii) Autograph book.

For the recipient’s brothers’ awards see lots 79 and 303.