Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A inter-War ‘Mesopotamia and Iraq operations’ O.B.E. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel F. Hartley, Royal Sussex Regiment, attached Labour Directorate Mesopotamia, who was three times Mentioned in Despatches

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major F. Hartley.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (Lt. Col. F. Hartley) contact marks and minor edge bruising, nearly very fine (4) £360-£440

O.B.E. London Gazette 9 September 1921.

M.I.D. London Gazettes 27 August 1918 and 12 January 1920 (both Mesopotamia); 9 September 1921 (Iraq).

Frank Hartley was born in 1887 at Douglas, Isle of Man, and resided at Mossley Hill, Liverpool. He attested for the Liverpool Regiment at Liverpool on 11 September 1914 and was posted to the Liverpool City Battalion. He was subsequently commissioned into the Royal Sussex Regiment as a Second Lieutenant on 16 June 1915, and was posted for service with the Stokes Gun Batteries, in Mesopotamia, landing there on 2 May 1916. Promoted Acting Captain, while commanding a Stokes Mortar Battery, in October 1916, he subsequently served as Assistant Director of Labour from September 1917 and was advanced temporary Major in June 1918. He was wounded in action with injuries to the chest and back in August 1918.; recovering, he was promoted Assistant Director of Labour and Acting Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1919. For his services in Mesopotamia and post-War Iraq he was thrice Mentioned in Despatches and was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Hartley was invalided back to the U.K. from Basrah on the S.S. Varela, on account of sickness attributed to malaria in October 1921; however, the combination of having been wounded and recurrent Malaria, led to his mental instability, and as a result was held as an in-patient in the Asylum wing of Netley Hospital. He was discharged due to Chronic Delusional Insanity on 18 April 1922, and was granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient in later life.