Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Lieutenant-Colonel E. G. Wallace, Indian Army, who was Mentioned in Despatches during the Great War and fought against Imperial Japanese Forces in Burma during the Second War

1914-15 Star 2/Lieut. E. G. Wallace, 1/96/Berar Infy.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. E. G. Wallace.); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Waziristan 1921-24, Burma 1930-32, second clasp loose on riband, as issued (Capt. E. C. Wallace, 2-19 Hy’bad R.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, adhesive residue to reverse of all but IGSM, nearly very fine and better (8) £240-£280

Edmund Grainger Wallace was born in Naini Tal on 16 June 1896, and was baptised by the Archdeacon of Lucknow at the Church of St. John’s in the Wilderness, Naini Tal, India. Appointed to a commission in the Indian Army 5 March 1915, he served with the 96th Berar Infantry in Persia from 18 May 1915. In 1922, the Indian Government reformed the army and moved from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments - the 96th Berar Infantry became the 2nd Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment; the recipient’s MIC confirms that his medals for Great War Service together with an M.I.D. emblem were issued by the Government of India in the early 1920s.

By 1939, the 19th Hyderabad Regiment consisted of four regular battalions: the 1st (Russell’s), 2nd (Berar), 4th and Kumaon Rifles. They fought in the Middle East, North Africa, Persia, Malaya, the Battle of Singapore and the Burma Campaign; raised Lieutenant-Colonel in the Kumaon Rifles, Wallace retired from the Indian Army in 1948.

Note: The Burma 1930-32 clasp is not confirmed in the recipient’s war services statement in the January 1941 Indian Army List war services supplement; however, he had been appointed to a post with Burma Military Police during the time in question, and so presumably qualified for the clasp in this capacity.