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Auction: 5005 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 416

A Scarce ´Madagascar´ 1943 Diego Suarez Operations O.B.E. Group of Six to Colonel G.F. Houghton, Royal Corps of Signals Order of the British Empire, 2nd type, Military Division, Officer´s (O.B.E.) breast Badge; India General Service 1908-35, one clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (Lieut. G.F. Houghton. R. Signals.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals; Coronation 1953, good very fine or better, mounted as worn (6) Estimate £ 340-380 O.B.E. London Gazette 8.7.1943. Major (temporary Lieutenant Colonel) Gorges Frederick Houghton (38393), Royal Corps of Signals (Ollerton). The Recommendation states ´5-11 May Diego Suarez. With very reduced signals due to limited accomodation in shipping, this officer worked wonders. He drew up the entire signal plan, got it working and by his own efforts kept it going, by personal visits to stations which brought him his full ration of shelling and sniping. At daylight on D.3, in a determined effort to get into Antsirane in time to prevent sabotage of W/T Station, he drove his truck past a French 75 which was doing its best over open sights to upset him. It was due entirely to this officer that the naval shelling was stopped in time to allow the armistice discussions to be concluded. This tireless, able and fearless officer had no sleep between 0300 D.1 and 0200 D.4. In spite of this, he continued with drive and energy to open up a skeleton Telephone System which was in operation by 0200 hrs D.4. A remarkable achievement.´ Colonel Gorges Frederick Houghton O.B.E., born 1907; Second Lieutenant 1.9.1927, Royal Signals; Lieutenant 1.9.1930; Adjutant 1.10.1936-12.11.1939; advanced Major 25.10.1941; Temporary Lieutenant Colonel 25.10.1941-18.8.1944; Chief Signals Officer 9.9.1944-20.2.1946; Staff Officer Grade 1 21.2.1946-9.2.1948; Chief Signals Officer Ceylon, 26.3.1948-30.9.1948; General Staff Officer Grade 1 (Signals) London Exchange, Head Quarters Western Europe Commander-in Chief Committee 20.5.1949-31.3.1951; General Staff Officer Grade 1 Allied Forces Central Europe 1.4.1951-24.1.1953; advanced Colonel 28.1.1955; Chief Signals Officer, Head Quarters Land Forces Hong Kong, 4.4.1955; retired 29.11.1959.

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