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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 974

The Malaysian Order of the Defender of the Realm awarded to Major R. G. H. Semmence, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)

Malaysia, Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm, breast Badge, 46mm, silver-gilt and enamel, by Garrard & Co., Ltd., London, good very fine, in fitted case of issue, the base with paper label stating 'Maj. R. G. H. Semmence'

[M.I.D.] London Gazette 29 June 1954 (Malaya).

Robert Graham Howard Semmence was commissioned into The Buffs from the Indian Army in August 1942. During 1958 he commanded the Relief of the British Political Officer from the besieged Fort As Sarir upon the heights of the precipitous Jebel Jehaf Plateau, near Dhala, Aden in the reduction of the Yemeni uprising in the Emirate, an action which saw Corporal White take the M.M. (Medals sold in these rooms in November 2016). The ascent and engagement is recalled in The Buffs, 1948-67:

'Semmence began his advance at 9a.m. with Lieutenant Williams's 1 Platoon leading, followed by Company Headquarters, then 2 Platoon, the section of mortars, the section of machine-guns, and 3 Platoon. For some forty minutes they toiled steadily on under a glaring sun in a long drawn single file, with the slope getting slowly steeper, the spurs on either side growing starker and more menacing. Suddenly they were under fire from the left-hand spur. There was no cover on the rubble strewn slope. The leading platoons hurried on towards the shelter of boulders deeper in the pass. Semmence estimated that around twenty five rifles were aimed at them. To quote his report, "The first volley was a little high, therefore fire was accurate and strike could be observed all around us. Rocks were being smashed, a 10lbs. mortar bomb being carried by hand was split by a bullet, a rifle butt was splintered, a pack perforated and so forth." Four men were hit, all private soldiers, one in 1 Platoon, two in 2, and one (by a ricochet) with the Machine-Gun Platoon. But there was no panic, no hugging the ground for cover that did not exist, even if some loads were jettisoned under the impact of crisis. After urging and turmoil the leading platoons reached the shelter of boulder and rocky outcrop, while the support weapon sections and 3 Platoon found cover further back. 2 Platoon were caught in the worst predicament, and they would have probably suffered more seriously if it had not been for the exertions of young Corporal White, acting sergeant and inspiration of the platoon, who not only kept the men moving but himself tended the wounded and carried one back to the bearer party, still under fire, before returning to bring further encouragement to his men...The company bren-gunners also blazed away, but the enemy could still retaliate and when a bren group of 2 Platoon ran for a better fire position they seemed, in the vivid phrase of an eye-witness, "to be skipping bullets all the way"'.

He was photographed whilst on campaign in Aden and retired Major in October 1962. The Major died in 2009, an obituary appearing in the Regimental Journal:

'For many years Major Semmence served with the Tochi Scouts on the North West Frontier, experience which was invaluable when he commanded 'A' Company, 1 Buffs during the operations to relieve Fort Assirir in the Western Aden Protectorate in 1958.

Major Reid writes:

I first met Graham Semmence in January 1956 on being posted to A Coy 1 Buffs, in Wuppertal. There is something about one's first Coy Comd that one always remembers but in this case Graham was quite unique. He was a tall and charming bachelor who never seemed to get ruffled by anything, however stupid his Subalterns were. After a year I was posted to the MT to allow the large number of National Service officers a chance to command a platoon and did not rejoin Graham until we were posted to Dover Castle in October 1957. Well can I remember the trips in his Jaguar XK to the Depot in Canterbury were we had some terrific parties with Alan Peckham before the hair raising return journey in the early hours of the morning. Sadly we were only in Dover for three months before embarking on the Navasa as the Battalion Advance Party for Aden. As Graham had served on the North-West Frontier of India during the Second War he was in his element instructing us in Picketing Drills for our deployment to Dhala and in Box Drills for our return to the Colony. During picketing operations Graham would stand by his vehicle wearing a red bandana across his shoulder in order that we on top of the picketed hill should know were he was. Unfortunately it made him a natural target for the dissidents and so it was very unhealthy to stand too close to him. He commanded the Coy on the advance up the Jebel Jihaf similarly attired. In the Dahla Officers Mess Graham had his own personal native cook to prepare his meals to the disgust of Charles Hamilton his 2i/cl In October 1958 I left Aden for a Support Weapons course and so sadly never served with Graham again.'

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Sold for
£180

Starting price
£40