Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin

Four: Major Edward Joseph Soper, Malay States Volunteer Regiment, late Army Ordnance Department, interned by the Japanese in Singapore

1914-15 Star (Lieut., A.O.D.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, G.V.R., reverse engraved, ‘Capt. E. J. Soper, M.S.V.R.’, with top brooch bar, mounted court style for wear, very fine and better (4) £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

View
Collection

Edward Joseph Soper was born in Wandsworth, London, on 15 October 1889. He was educated at the University of London and was a member of the O.T.C., from which he was granted a commission as a Temporary Lieutenant in the Army Ordnance Department on 22 January 1915. He was appointed Temporary Captain in July 1916 and Acting Major in November 1918. He served in Egypt, November 1915-October 1919. As a Temporary Captain, Soper was mentioned in the despatch of General Allenby, C-in-C. Egyptian Expeditionary Force, dated General H.Q., 23 October 1918 (London Gazette 22 January 1919). Temporary Captain Soper relinquished his acting rank of Major on 21 November 1920 and relinquished his commission on completion of service on 2 December 1920, being granted the rank of Major.

After the Great War Soper entered the employment of the Malayan Civil Service, being appointed Engineering Accountant in September 1923 and holding various account or financial posts thereafter. Serving in the Malay States Volunteer Regiment he was appointed a Lieutenant in December 1923 and was promoted to Captain in April 1927 and Major in January 1932. In about 1928 he undertook the duties of Quartermaster with the unit. In recognition of his long service he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, this published in the Federated Malay States Government Gazette of 28 September 1928. Two years later he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, notified in the Federated Malay States Government Gazette of 11 April 1930. When war was declared in 1939, he was directed to resign from the Volunteers so that he could be retained for essential work in Malaya. At this time he was employed with the Federation of Malay States Railways and placed in charge of organising the Air Raids Precautions Service for Kuala Lumpur. Hence, with the Japanese invasion, he was interned as a civilian, being held at Changi Jail, Singapore. After his release he returned to England and was employed by the Crown Agents and War Office. Latterly living at Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, he died on 4 February 1965. Sold with copied research.