An Intriguing WW2 'Northwest Europe' M.B.E., General List attached 81 Special Investigation Section, Corps of Military Police, Cheshire Constabulary, Medal Group awarded to Major Harold Purslow.

Harold Purslow was born on the 7th February, 1912, at Shrewsbury, Shropshire. At some point he moved to the Wirral area in Cheshire, where he joined the Cheshire Police Constabulary (1939 Census refers), serving as a police constable at Little Sutton.

During the early part of WW2, Harold joined the ranks of the Corps of Military Police, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant, before gaining an Emergency Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant on the General List – London Gazette 23 July 1943 refers.

From November 1944 he worked as the Deputy Assistant Provost Marshall for the 81 Special Investigation Section at Antwerp, Belgium. The special investigation was launched to counter rampant, large-scale pilferage and black-market theft of British War Department (WD) property moving through the Antwerp docks.

The relentless investigations led by the DAPM successfully recovered thousands of pounds worth of military goods, secured critical supply lines for the Allied advance into Germany, and brought numerous black-market offenders to justice. For his services with the 81 S.I.S, Harold was awarded the M.B.E. The original recommendation reads as follows -

'This officer has been DAPM 81 Special Investigation Section at ANTWERP since November 1944. He has shown outstanding ability and drive in dealing with the large number of pilferage cases in the port of ANTWERP. His duty has required him to be out continually for long hours day after day.
Due to his untiring efforts and splendid example WD property to the value of many thousands of Pounds has been recovered and offenders brought to justice. By his tenacity of purpose, cheerfulness, and sense of duty he has been an inspiring example to all with whom he came in contact. He has shouldered his abnormal responsibilities willingly and I strongly recommend the award of M.B.E. in recognition of his services.'

M.B.E., London Gazette 11 October 1945.

After the war, Harold returned to serving with the Cheshire Police Constabulary as a police constable, and he appears in an online copy of THE BEST OF OUR SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE, A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHESHIRE CONSTABULARY 1857 – 1957 (page 50). Unfortunately, algorithms will not allow us to print a copy, but a screen shot of his listing is included in the research. The chapter that Harold is mentioned in makes reference to the 254 constables and 31 messengers (cadets) from the Cheshire Constabulary who served during WW2, and also those who were commissioned and decorated during their service.

Intriguingly, whilst researching the address that is written on the O.H.M.S. medal box of issue (Lt. Col. H Purslow, M.B.E., 7, Birchington Road, Crouch End, London, N.4) the only record of an H. Purslow living at this address, is that of a Harold-J. Purslow (Ancestry), who lived at number 7 between 1949 and 1953. There appears to be no record of Harold Purslow leaving the Wirral area, other than for war service. Delving a little deeper, there is a Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Henry Purslow, who originally served with the Indian Army. We have found the following on him -

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Henry Purslow, MBE, was an Indian Army officer who served with distinction during World War 2.

He was born on November 2, 1910, in Belgaum, India, and he spent much of his career serving in the region before later passing away on May 2, 1986, in Perth, Western Australia.

He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on January 15, 1941 (Emergency Commission 1558). He achieved the war substantive rank of Captain and temporary rank of Major in April 1943, later reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

During the war, he was prominently involved in logistics for the Burma Campaign, notably coordinating the dropping of mules and other equipment into Burma to support the specialized long-range penetration operations of the Chindits. It is believed he was awarded his M.B.E during 1945 for his services in Burma.

He attended the prestigious Staff College in Quetta (now Pakistan) and returned there as a military instructor in 1946.

In 1938, prior to his wartime commissions, records highlight his participation in an official diplomatic/frontier visit to Afghanistan alongside Dr. Nihal Chand Sikri.

It would appear that the medals and the named warrants/documents are to Major Harold Purslow, Corps of Military Police, General List, attached 81 S.I.S., Cheshire Constabulary, and the O.H.M.S. box is to Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Henry Purslow. There are very few officers by the name of Purslow that feature in the London Gazette, or other search platforms.

CHALLENGE. We will offer a 10% discount off this item, or any other item in the shop, plus free postage, if anyone can confirm that we are correct, or you can confirm who the O.H.M.S. box belongs to.

This item was recently purchased from one of the most reputable medal auctioneers in London, so there is no questioning its authenticity, just a question mark over origins of the O.H.M.S. box of issue!

The medals are mounted for display, sold with copied research, the original named Warrant for the award of the M.B.E., original named letter from the Central Chancery confirming the award of the M.B.E., original named O.H.M.S. medal box of issue with Army Council slip for 4 medals and 4 greased medal envelopes to: Lt.Col. H. Purslow, M.B.E., 7, Birchington Road, Crouch End, London, N.4, and are as follows –

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Member's (M.B.E.) 2nd Type breast Badge, in case of issue; 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, all unnamed as issued.

Condition, extremely fine