Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘North West Europe’ O.B.E., Great War ‘Western Front 1918 Advance to Victory’ M.C. group of eleven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. P. Parker, Royal Engineers, late London Regiment, who served during the Second World War as a Railway Construction Engineer, restoring rail lines of communication including repairing and replacing bridges that the enemy had destroyed

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer‘s (Brother’s) breast badge, silver, with heraldic beasts in angles; 1914-15 Star (504. Pte. C. P. Parker. 5-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. C. P. Parker.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army Emergency Reserve Decoration, E.II.R., reverse officially dated 1956, with two Additional Award Bars, and integral top brooch bar, mounted court-style for display, generally good very fine and better (11) £800-£1,000

O.B.E. London Gazette 11 October 1945:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North-West Europe.’

The original Recommendation states: ‘This officer has commanded a Railway Construction and Maintenance Group with conspicuous success for some years. During the past three mouths, he has been the Railway Construction Engineer responsible for the rehabilitation of the Rail line of communication through Holland across the River Maas at Gennep and on the section Gennep-Goch-Geldern, i.e., the area between the Maas and the Rhine for the development of railheads. In addition, he has had charge of the rehabilitation work between Rheine and Osnabruck to the River Wesel and its extension towards Brenen.
In addition to the Railway Construction Engineering work involved, he has been responsible for the reconstruction of all the bridges on these sections, principally the Gennep Bridge over the River Maas (1345 ft overall) and at Bohmte whereby the most successful feats of engineering were achieved. He devised and executed a scheme for repairing the existing span thus expediting the opening of the line to traffic very materially.
These tasks have demanded engineering qualifications of the highest order and exceptional organisational abilities to ensure the fullest use being made of both men and material. The success with which Lieutenant-Colonel Parker's efforts have been crowned have proved that he has these qualities in a very high order. The work has demanded ceaseless vigilance in regard to the details of the work and the most careful programming of supplies as well as a flexibility of engineering technique to meet unexpected difficulties with rapid and sound improvisation. It is impossible to speak too highly of the efforts of this officer which have had a direct bearing on the speed with which the rail line of communications has been developed and it is quite certain that without his untiring efforts our railway progress would not have been as fast as in fact at has.
Prior to the last three months, he rendered exceptional services in the development of the line of communication from Caen to Belgium and throughout the campaign has proved an outstanding regimental commander and an exceptionally fine engineer. His services have been so outstanding that he has been recommended with the utmost confidence for the award of the O.B.E.’

M.C. London Gazette 2 April 1919; citation published 10 December 1919:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and initiative when carrying out an engineer reconnaissance in the attack east of Bohain on 11 October 1918. He pushed his investigations well forward in spite of hostile machine-gun fire, and was the means of information being received early, thereby adding greatly to the efficiency of the subsequent work. On this and on later occasions his reconnaissances produced reports of great value.’

Cecil Preston Parker was born in West Ham, London, on 13 October 1893 and attested for the 5th Battalion, London Regiment, serving with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 March 1915. Returning to England on 28 May 1915, he was commissioned into the Kent Fortress Engineers, Royal Engineers on 17 January 1916, and was awarded the Military Cross for his actions at Bohain on 11 October 191 whilst serving with the 509th (London) Field Company, Royal Engineers.

Serving with the Territorials during the inter-War years, Parker was promoted Major on 24 August 1939, and served during the Second World War in command of a Railway Construction and Maintenance Group. For his services in North West Europe restoring railways services including repairing and replacing bridges that the enemy had destroyed he was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He retired with the rank of Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel on 6 September 1945, upon reaching the compulsory retirement age, and was awarded the Army Emergency Reserve Decoration with two Additional Awards Bars in 1956 (all three awards notified in the London Gazette 29 June 1956). He died in Bournemouth, Hampshire, in December 1971.

Sold with Army Council enclosure for the Second War awards, and copied research.