Which medal is being awarded here?

Hi All,

Yet another of my little posers here. I came across this photograph this evening and am looking for your opinions.

Six men from the King's Liverpool Regiment were awarded gallantry medals by Lord Archibald Wavell at a ceremony in Karachi in late 1943. Three were NCO's of which one received a DCM, with the other two being awarded the Military Medal. These medals are coin styled awards and can be discounted.

The other three men were; a recently promoted Lieutenant, a Captain and a Major. The Major was awarded the MBE (Military) and the other two the Military Cross.

So the question is, in the photograph shown below can we identify the rank of the medal recipient and the medal he received. The image is not brilliant, but does give us a chance. A strong vote one way or the other will enable me to put a name to the soldier.

Many thanks.

 

I would say that's the MBE as there appears to be a crown between the cross and the ribbon, plus the central circular bit. The horizontal/flat feature on his rank slide also suggests a crown rather than a pip.

 

The spacing to me suggests Crown and Pip - so I would posit that it is actually an OBE (MBE too junior for a half Colonel). But the only way of telling for certain would be a colour photograph or knowing definitely who it is and going to the London Gazette.

 

Or maybe the major had been promoted between winning and getting his award?

 

Thanks for the input Gents, this is great. I agree that we can eliminate the MC recipients, one of which was far too short to be the man in the photograph.

 

Its definitely not a MM, DCM or MC and definitely a British Empire award of sorts. I've just looked in Peter Duckers British Orders and decorations and the CBE, OBE and MBE are all the same shape but interestingly on a website it states that anyone awarded an order from the military division is also promoted. So in short with everything that has been said I would go with:

MBE and promoted from Major to Lt. Colonel. Now who's posting up the citation?

 

I think you have hit the nail squarely on the head Staffsyeoman. Looking through my Chindit 1 records, there was a seventh King's recipient (the photograph description says there were only six).

Lieutenant-Colonel S.A. Cooke formerly of the Lincolns, but posted to the King's in 1942. He received an OBE for services on Operation Longcloth. Case closed I feel.

 

I am Andy.

 

Just for the record... the CBE is actually a. quite bigger (wider, thicker) than the O or the M b. is worn around the neck except in miniature and c. is enamelled, which does show up in photos. But we've nailed tis one, so happy ending.

 

Thanks again. I have a photograph of 5 of the men from this award ceremony, but when I stumbled across this image in the magazine I was perplexed for a while. As soon as you mentioned 'half colonel' I was there.