Medals to The Rifle Brigade and Affiliated Regiments from the collection formed by Michael Haines

Seven: Captain H. W. Ashby, 5th and 6th Gurkhas, late Hertfordshire Regiment

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; India Service Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, S.E. Asia 1945-46, Malaya (Capt., 5 G.R.); Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R. (5990205 Cpl., Herts. Regt.) the last with engraved naming and slack suspension, some with contact marks, otherwise generally good very fine (7) £200-250

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to The Rifle Brigade and Affiliated Regiments from the collection formed by Michael Haines.

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Harold William “Gus” Ashby was born in Watford, Hertfordshire in May 1921 and was commissioned into the 5th Gurkha Rifles in December 1943, receiving advancement to Lieutenant in the following year. Subsequently employed as an Intelligence Officer in the 3/5th during the landings in Malaya, he went on to serve as a Company Commander in Java between October 1945 and April 1946.

In Malaya, he was present at the disarming of many Japanese, including 97 members of the notoriously brutal Kempetei. Ashby was also responsible for the platoon sent to guard His Highness the Sultan of Negri Semblian. Afterwards, in Java, he confronted the more hazardous duties of a Company Commander, participating in the investigation of an Indonesian-held quinine factory - his section ‘came under heavy fire from a number of houses’, one Gurkha being killed and another four wounded. Ashby was subsequently present in the follow up operation, when the factory was stormed and 19 prisoners taken.

Ashby latterly served as a Signals Officer and Quarter-Master and is believed to have been demobbed in early 1947. Research sold with the Lot, however, reveals that he returned to spend further time with the Gurkhas in the 1950s; also sold with photocopied group photograph, including the recipient.