The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

A scarce inter-war B.E.M. awarded to Mounted Sergeant E. W. J. Medlock, Palestine Police, who was decorated for ‘his gallant and distinguished services during the riots in Palestine in April-October 1936’

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.V.R. (Eric W. J. Medlock), polished, nearly very fine £500-600

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

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B.E.M. London Gazette 1 February 1937.

Eric William John Medlock, who was born in January 1909 and educated at Upwell Boys School, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, joined the Palestine Police in September 1929, and, as verified by official records, was awarded his B.E.M. for ‘gallant and distinguished services during the April-October 1936 riots’, while serving as a Mounted Sergeant in the Palestine Police. The following unsubstantiated letter was received by the Inspector of Police at Nablus, about the time of the riots.:

‘Warning

It was ascertained by us that Sergeant Medlock still commits all kinds of torture, beating and contempt against the Arabs in your area.

He brings to memory his atrocities and murder of the innocent in Jaffa.

We warn you to send him away and dismiss him from the Police Force.

If you neglect this request, our reaction will be soon against you and all the English, by demolishing and blowing up all Police stations and your heads as a punishment.

Signed: The ill-disposed and revolting souls’

A glimpse of Medlock in action in 1938 may be found in Edward Horne’s A Job Well Done:

‘One day Fawzi Kauwakji laid a careful trap. Sounds of firing between Acre and the frontier post of Ras en Naqura bought British Sergeant E. W. Medlock out in an armoured car to investigate. In his crew he had a British Constable known as “Big” McBride as his Lewis gunner, and of course a driver. They came across a convoy of trucks which Fawzi’s gang had set alight, while the truck drivers lay around the roadway with their throats cut, but there was no sign of the gang. He found himself in a trap when about seventy riflemen in well concealed positions poured fire into the party. The site was well chosen, and as the sun rose the police were blinded by the light and had difficulty in returning effective fire. In his own words, Medlock later stated ‘The position was a bit difficult.’ Luckily a company of the Leicestershire Regiment arrived to help out. The Sergeant arranged with the Company Commander to drive up a rough track leading towards Tarshia village and to cut off the gang, while the Leicesters followed. At some distance the police came across a road block which the troops cleared, and while this work was in progress the army opened up with a two inch mortar which had some effect upon Fawzi’s men, who preferred to withdraw. Once free, Medlock pressed on for about four kilometres and ran into another ambush. This time the gang poured shots into the car from above and McBride found his Lewis gun had jammed. Impervious to danger he quietly went through parade ground practice of dismantling the gun to rectify the stoppage, while Medlock engaged the gang from a distance of some twenty yards or so, in the rocks nearby. Between police and army, a number of casualties were inflicted upon the Arabs and some prisoners were taken. The final operations were directed by Superintendent Tesseyman and Assistant Superintendent John Fforde, but the hero of the day was McBride who knew that lives depended upon the efficient operation of the Lewis gun. When Medlock later suggested to his superiors that at least McBride should get a commendation, the reply was ‘There has been so much doing lately, we can’t recommend everybody.’ ’

Subsequently advanced to Inspector in November 1938 and to Acting Superintendent of Police in September 1939, Medlock was serving in the Mobile Police Striking Force at Nazareth by 1941 - see A Job Well Done for frequent mention of him; sold with copied service record and other career details.