Second World War North West Europe and Territorial long service group awarded to Captain M.D. Banbury, Royal Artillery. Originally from West Ham, he was a pre-war Territorial with the 51st (London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, and as such may well have seen service in the defence of Narvik during the Norwegian Campaign in May 1940. He was commissioned in September 1940, and went on to be awarded the Efficiency Medal in June 1947. He was a member of the London Stock Exchange, and lived in the Old Manor House in Brasted, Kent, but died in June 1951.
Group of 5: 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal; Efficiency Medal, GVI 2nd type bust, Territorial suspension; (CAPT. M.D. BANBURY. R.A.), later with named card box of issue.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine.
Together with the following:
Recipient’s original passport, complete with pass photo, as issued on 13th September 1947, a number of European travel entries stamped in.
His wife’s original passport, in the name of Mary Banbury nee Cowen, complete with pass photo, as issued on 26th November 1949.
Two photographs of his wife, both in uniform when serving with the Women’s Auxiliary Transport Service, one dated July 1942.
Maurice Douglas Banbury was born on 23rd May 1910 in Leytonstone, Essex, and was a pre-war Territorial serviceman who had attested in 1939 for service as a Gunner (No.877330) with the Coastal Defence / Anti-Aircraft Branch, being posted to the 51st (London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. This regiment, which consisted of regimental headquarters and three batteries, was mobilised on the outbreak of the Second World War as part of the 49th Anti-Aircraft Brigade in the 1st Ant-Aircraft Division.
Having been equipped for mobile warfare, in April 1940 the regiment then found itself part of the 6th Anti-Aircraft Brigade and had two batteries, namely the 151st and 152nd Batteries sent to Norway, and these batteries then took part in the defence of Navikfjord and the airstrip at Skaanland. These batteries arrived in Norway on 6th May and were immediately brought into action, engaging enemy aircraft almost daily as aerial attacks were made on shipping in the fjord. They claimed a number of enemy aircraft destroyed. With the capture of Narvik on 28th May, the two batteries were evacuated, but only after covering the majority of the evacuation and were in action until the last minute, with many of the guns having to be abandoned.
Banbury may have been one of those in Norway. He was then granted an emergency commission into the Regular Army as a 2nd Lieutenant (No.145825) with the Royal Artillery on 7th September 1940. He saw service during the war in North West Europe, and was promoted to Captain, being awarded the Efficiency Medal in the London Gazette for 13th June 1947. Banbury who was a member of the London Stock Exchange, lived in the Old Manor House in Brasted, Kent, and died on 13th June 1951.
