Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Lieutenant-Colonel R. V. Clifford, 15th Punjab Regiment, attached 3rd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment, Indian Army, late Royal Tank Regiment, who served as Aide-de-Camp to H.E. the Viceroy of India, and was killed in action in Italy on 9 October 1944

India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (Lieut. R. V. Clifford. R. Tank C.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, nearly extremely fine (6) £240-£280

Roland Vere Clifford was born in Farnham, Surrey, on 5 June 1907, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Wigram Clifford, Northumberland Fusiliers, and was educated at Wellington College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Tank Corps on 30 August 1926. Posted to the 3rd Battalion, he was promoted Lieutenant on 30 August 1929, and served in India during operations on the North West Frontier 1930-31, being promoted Captain on 30 August 1935.

Transferring to the Indian Army on 4 February 1936, Clifford was posted to the 15th Punjab Regiment, and was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Viceroy of India on 1 December 1939. Prior to the Second World War he also met members of the German SS expedition to Tibet, which, according to one source, was searching for the original Aryan tribes. Following the outbreak of War he served during the Second World War in North Africa and Italy, being promoted Major on 30 August 1943. Appointed Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, he was killed in action on 9 October 1944, and is buried in Coriano Ridge War Cemetery, Italy.

Sold with copied research, including an annotated photographic image of the recipient with members of the German Expedition to Tibet.

For the medals awarded to the recipient’s father and brother, see Lots 89 and 350.