The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

An impressive C.M.G., O.B.E., M.C., O. St. J., K.P.M. group of fourteen awarded to Colonel A. Saunders, Colonial Police Forces, late Indian Army, a founder member of the Palestine Police, in which force he served for many years and rose to be Inspector-General: mentioned extensively in the force’s history A Job Well Done, ‘he had a penetrating knowledge of the country, its peoples and the police force that served them’ and displayed gallant leadership during the “Week of Terror” that erupted in the province in August 1929

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt; Military Cross, G.V.R., privately engraved, ‘Captain A. Saunders, 58th (Vaughan’s) Rifles, F.F., 234th Inf. Bde. 75th Div. E.E.F.’; The Most Venerable Order of St. John (O. St. J.), Officer’s breast badge, silvered metal and enamel; King’s Police Medal, G.V.R., coinage bust (Alan Saunders, M.C., Deputy Commandant Palestine Police); 1914-15 Star (Lieut. A. Saunders, 58 Rfls.); British War and Victory Medals (Maj. A. Saunders); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (Inspr. Gen. A. Saunders, O.B.E., M.C., Pal. Police); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, together with a set of related dress miniature medals, a school prize award and a set of mounted tunic ribands, the 1914-15 Star officially re-impressed, back strap of Palestine clasp removed, contact marks, generally very fine or better (Lot)
£3000-3500

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

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C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1941.

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1932.

O. St. J. London Gazette 28 June 1946.

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918:

‘For distinguished services in connection with military operations in Egypt.’

K.P.M. London Gazette 24 September 1929:

‘In recognition of services rendered in connection with the recent disturbances in Palestine.’

Alan Saunders, who was born in August 1887 and educated at Christ’s Hospital, entered the Indian Police in 1908. Commissioned in the 39/Garwhal Rifles in December 1914, he arrived in France in April 1915 and was wounded in the following month. But further active service ensued - during which he collected another wound - including participation in the Egypt and Palestine operations with 58th Vaughan’s Rifles, and he was awarded the M.C. and three “mentions”.

Returning to the Colonial Police Service after the War, he served as District Commandant in Jerusalem 1920-26 and as a Deputy Inspector-General of the Palestine Police 1926-35, in which period he was awarded his K.P.M. for the disturbances of 1929, in addition to the O.B.E. in 1932. Known for his stance with feet slightly apart, set jaw and kalpak tilted slightly forward on his head, Saunders was a popular leader, a welcome asset when it came to coaxing his men through the period of disturbances in 1929, when he was Acting Inspector-General of Police, his senior having departed on leave. A Job Well Done takes up the story:

‘In the absence of their respective superiors, the two most important men in Palestine at this time were Luke and Saunders. The administrator and the policeman. They know each other very well and had worked together for nearly ten years. It was time to put an end to the nonsense about not requiring army back up in Palestine. It was obvious that the Arab demonstration was precursive of greater disturbances and the two of them worked with commendable speed to procure military reinforcements as could be mustered in a country that virtually had no military garrison to offer.’

Greater disturbances did indeed follow, a “Week of Terror” in August resulting in the death of 133 Jews and 110 Arabs, in addition to hundreds more being wounded. But with the timely arrival of H.M.S. Courageous from Malta, complete with her Royal Marines, a semblance of order was finally restored.

Having then served as an Inspector-General in the Nigeria Police 1936-37, Saunders returned to Palestine in the latter year to take up appointment as Inspector-General of Police and Prisons, as well as serving as a member of the region’s Advisory Committee, a difficult time indeed in lieu of the Arab Revolt. Remaining similarly employed until 1943, he was awarded the C.M.G.

Retiring from the Colonial Police Service in 1944, he was next appointed, in the rank of Colonel, Chief Police Adviser, Allied Military H.Q., Greece, while after the War he served as Commissioner of Police in Tripolitania 1946-52. Settling in Devon, he died in March 1964; also sold with a Palestine Police badge, and Nigeria and Palestine Police buttons, together with a quantity of research and a copy of A Job Well Done.

See lots 596 and 728 for other medals to the Saunders family.