Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War C.B., Second War ‘North Africa’ D.S.O., O.B.E. group of eleven awarded to Major-General G. S. Hatton, Royal Engineers, who was twice Mentioned in Despatches

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband; Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated 1942, with integral top riband bar; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. G. S. Hatton.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn, good very fine (11) £3,000-£4,000

C.B. London Gazette 8 June 1950.

D.S.O. London Gazette 9 September 1942:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period November 1941 to April 1942.’

The original Recommendation states: ‘Throughout the operations of 7th Armoured Division in November to December 1941, Colonel Hatton was Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General of the 7th Armoured Division and in this capacity was not only responsible for the maintenance, recovery and evacuation for three Armoured Brigades, Support Group and numerous Divisional Troops but also for the considerable number of other formations and units who were from time to time put under the Division. The initial planning and actual administrative execution lay entirely in his hands and in the ups and downs of a prolonged battle owed much to his initiative and determination. Although large enemy Armoured forces at one time cut the communications he never failed to maintain the Division. Always himself moving about the battlefield, coolheaded, unprotected and controlling his services with wireless he kept himself well in the picture and thus his foresight and resource enabled the Division to be maintained in a battle which took them 400 miles in 40 days.’

O.B.E. London Gazette 30 December 1941:
‘In recognition of distinguished services in the Middle East during the period February to July 1941.’

The original Recommendation states: ‘This Officer joined Alexandria Area H.Q., Staff on its formation and became responsible for its organisation from its inception. During the period in which he has served as Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General and Senior Staff Officer at this H.Q., vast problems have had to be dealt with, including the accommodation and evacuation of 120,000 Prisoners of War; the embarkation of 63,000 Officers and men and 10,000 vehicles for Greece; the accommodation and evacuation of 12,500 Officers and men evacuated from Greece, and 12,000 Officers and men from Crete in circumstances of considerable difficulty. His untiring energy and devotion to duty contributed in a large degree to the success of these operations. He has at all times shown himself to be unsparing in his efforts, has displayed marked ability and his services have contributed considerably to the successful solution of many and diverse problems connected with the prosecution of War.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 April 1941:
‘For distinguished services in the Middle East during the period August 1939 to November 1940.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 4 April 1946:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North-West Europe.’

George Seton Hatton was born in Grenada, British West Indies, on 13 February 1899 and having moved with his family to Canada was educated at Upper Canada College, Toronto and the Royal Military College of Canada. Commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 22 August 1917, he served during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 July 1918, and subsequently post-War with the Intelligence Corps in the Army of the Black Sea, and then on Staff in Constantinople during Turkey’s War of Independence. Re-joining the Royal Engineers, he served in Egypt and at home 1924-34; and was promoted Captain on 22 August 1928. After a year at the Staff College in 1935, he proceeded to India to take up the appointment as the R.E.’s General Staff Officer, and was promoted Major on 22 August 1937.

Hatton accompanied the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade to Middle East as Brigade Major in 1939 and served during the Second World Wa on Staff services in the Middle East from 1939 to 1944 including appointments in Western Desert as Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General with the 7th Armoured Division, for which services he was Mentioned in Despatches and appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire; he also held senior appointments with the 9th Army and G.H.Q, for which services he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He subsequently served North West Europe in 1945, on the Staff of S.H.A.E.F., and on 3 April 1945 he assumed a command in 21 Army Group as a temporary Brigadier. For his services in North-West Europe he was again Mentioned in Despatches.

Post-War, Hatton served as Commander of British Troops in the Low Countries, and then as Brigadier Administration and Quartering, B.A.O.R.. Returning to the U.K., he served as Chief of Staff, H.Q. Southern Command, Salisbury, from 1949, and was promoted Major- General on 18 February 1950. Appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1950 Birthday Honours’ List, he served as Major-General Administration, B.A.O.R., from 1951 until retiring on 29 January 1954. Returning to Canada, he served as Deputy Federal Civil Defence Coordinator for Canada from 1955 to 1959. He died on 24 March 1974, aged 75.

Sold with the following documents:
i) The recipient’s two Mentioned in Despatches Certificates.
ii) A copy of the Statutes of the Order of the Bath.
iii) Two portrait photographs of the recipient
iv) Photographs from various postings, including Turkey, Germany and North Africa; together with two sketch maps, one of the Battle Field of Sidi Rezegh November 1941, the other of Egypt and Western Desert 1940-41.
v) A commemorative book for Upper Canada College covering the period when the recipient was a pupil; a copy of The Royal Engineers Journal containing the recipient’s obituary; and a copy of the Orders and Medals Research Society Journal, March 2009, which contains a detailed account of the recipient and his career
vi) Various copied research and other ephemera including a bronze Zeebrugge Commemorative Medallion, 1954, in case.

For the recipient’s related miniature awards, see Lot 535.