The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

A unique Second World War Burma operations C.B., C.B.E., Mohmand 1933 D.S.O., Black Sea 1920 operations M.C. group of eleven awarded to Major-General H. L. “Taffy” Davies, Indian Army, who, having played an important role as Chief of Staff to the G.O.C. in the retreat from Burma in 1942, commanded with distinction the 25th “Ace of Spades” Indian Division in the Arakan 1943-44

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. H. L. Davies); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Waziristan 1921-24, Mohmand 1933 (Capt. H. L.Davies, 2-18 R. Garh. Rif.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf, obverse centre on the D.S.O. a little depressed, otherwise generally very fine or better (11) £6000-8000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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C.B. London Gazette 13 September 1945:

‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma.’

The original recommendation states:

‘Major-General Davies has completed command of his division for two and a half years. He raised it, trained it to an unusually high level, and led it on the Arakan front for eight months with marked success. His leadership and sound tactical judgment brought it successfully through some critical weeks in March and April when the Jap had temporary initiative owing to the withdrawal of 5, 7 and 36 Indian Divisions elsewhere. His work has at all times been of the highest quality and I consider a fitting reward for his gallant and distinguished conduct would be the award of the C.B.

C.B.E. London Gazette 28 October 1942:

‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma during the period December 1941 to May 1942.’

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 July 1934:

‘For distinguished services rendered in the Field in connection with military operations against the Upper Mohmands in the period July-October 1933.’

M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1921:

‘For distinguished service in the Field with the British Army of the Black Sea.’

Henry Lowrie “Taffy” Davies was born in January 1898, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel H. Davies, C.M.G., and was educated at Dover College and the R.M.C. Sandhurst. Commissioned in the 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles in March 1916, he served in France and Flanders, and in Mesopotamia and Salonika, and, in 1920, as a Company Commander in 2nd Battalion, 39th Royal Garhwal Rifles, against the Turkish and Kurdish rebels on the Black Sea, winning one of five Military Crosses awarded for that campaign, in addition to a “mention”.

Further active service having followed in the Waziristan operations of 1920-23, Davies attended Staff College at Quetta and served as Brigade Major in the Mohmand campaign of 1933, under Sir Claude Auchinleck, who considered him ‘the finest Brigade Major he had ever come across.’ He was mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.S.O., one of just three such awards for the campaign. A spate of staff appointments then ensued and he was serving as a G.S.O. 2 in the Military Department, India Office on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939.

During 1940-41 he was G.S.O. 1 Iceland Force, for which he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the O.B.E., but it was out in Burma that he was to gain higher recognition, namely a C.B.E. for his prominent part in the famous retreat from Burma in 1942, when he was a tower of strength to the Burma Army as Chief General Staff Officer during the early days of the campaign, which ended with the fall of Rangoon, and subsequently to General Bill Slim’s Burma Corps in their grim fighting withdrawal from Rangoon to the frontiers of India. Slim says of him in his book Defeat into Victory:

‘I was fortunate in my B.G.S., Taffy Davies. He was something more than a brilliant staff officer; he was a character in his own right. His tall bony figure grew more and more emaciated as the retreat dragged on while he gave himself no rest, either physical or mental. But he got - and kept - that scratch headquarters working. From nothing, and with almost nothing, he formed, organised and infused it with his own spirit.’

In August 1942, Davies became a Major-General and took command of the newly raised 25th “Ace of Spades” Indian Division, and subsequently led it against the Japanese with great distinction in the Arakan from May 1944. Unfortunately ill-health forced him to give up command in October of the latter year, but he later commanded the 34th Corps in India with the acting rank of Lieutenant-General, and was awarded the C.B. and a further brace of “mentions” (London Gazettes 21 July 1944 and 19 July 1945 refer).

Immediately after the War he became Chief General Staff Officer to the Pakistan Army and Commandant of the Staff College at Quetta. He retired in 1948 and served with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries until 1962, when he became Chief Historian at the Cabinet Office, Historical Section. Davies died in July 1975.