A potentially interesting Chaplain’s Officer of the Order of the Order of the British Empire group awarded to the Reverend J.J.E. O’Malley, Army Chaplain’s Department who having studied at Trinity College, Dublin, received his B.A. in 1907 would act as Curate at Portadown, Balinrobe and St. Luke, Cork before seeing service during the Great War as a Chaplain to the Forces, being present on the Western Front from 19th April 1915. He would continue to act as a Chaplain to the Forces after the war holding appointments in Malta and in the UK and being appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the King’s Birthday Honour’s List of 1929. He would subsequently serve as Chaplain to the Forces, London District and Brigade of Guards and the Assistant Chaplain General, Southern Command and in the Western Mediterranean. Finally he served as the Rector of Sandhurst for 23 years before retiring in 1961.
Group of 6: Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), Military Division, 1st type, with hallmarks for London, 1928; 1914-1915 Star; (REV.J.J.E. O’MALLEY. A.C.D.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (REV. J.J.E. O’MALLEY.) Jubilee Medal 1935, Coronation Medal 1937. Mounted loose for wear.
Condition: mounted loose for wear, polishing to hight points, especially of 1914-1915 Star, Very Fine or better.
John James Evans O’Malley was born on 12th June 1885 and studied at Trinity College, Dublin, receiving his BA in 1907. He would act as the Curate at Portadown between 1908-1910, Balinrobe 1910-11 and St. Luke, Cork between 1911 and 1914.
He would serve as a Chaplain to the Forces at Bordon in 1914-1915 before travelling to France where he saw service on the Western Front from 19th April 1915, then subsequently serving at Clipston in 1918-1919, Malta 1919-23 during which time he completed his MA whilst serving as a Chaplain 3rd Class, ranking as Major on 1st January 1921., Chatham 1923, Hilsea 1923-25, Lichfield 1925-1931 being appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1929 Birthday Honours List whilst a Chaplain to the Forces 2nd Class.
During 1931-32 he acted as Chaplain to the Forces, London District and Brigade of Guards, then as the Assistant Chaplain General, Southern Command 1932-1936, (being noted as Chaplain to the Forces 1st Class and ranking as Colonel on 12th December 1932) and then in the Western Mediterranean 1936-1938.
Finally he served as the Rector of Sandhurst from 2nd September 1938-30th September 1961 before retiring. He died on 7th February 1968.
