Member of the Order of the British Empire - O.B.E. (Military); 1939-45 Star; France & Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45 with M.I.D. Oakleaf; Emergency Reserve Decoration EIIR 1953 - engraved on reverse (with clasp for further period of six years) - all unnamed as awarded.
Attributed to Lt. Colonel Arthur N. Butland, O.B.E., B.Sc, R.E. with original letter from Buckingham Palace and letter from the War Office confirming the award of the Decoration. The original case for the O.B.E is included as are two loose roses.
52760 Lt Col Arthur Norman Butland R.E. was born on 13.2.1904 in Cheddar, Somerset was in France D Day. Awarded OBE and MID 1945 Graduated with B.Sc (Engineering) from London University in 1930 and was commissioned into R.E. (Transportation) as 2nd Lieutenant on 19.8.1931.
The citation for his O.B.E. read as follows:
"This officer has been engaged in railway repair an construction from the early days of the campaign and has commanded a Railways Construction and Maintenance Group RE since February. He was responsible for the repair of the Railways in Germany and the provision of railheads and railway facilities in the forward areas following the assault across the Rhine. He displayed ability of the highest order and his clear thinking and organising skill in difficult circumstances contributed to a large degree to the successful completion of the plan for the support of the Armies on the extended lines of communication during this phase.
He subsequently was made responsible for the rehabilitation of railways in the HAMBURG-BREMEN area and immediately produced an efficient organisation for the exploitation of of the disorganised German railway engineering resources and produced and implemented a plan for the integration of military and civilian effort for the restoration of essential lines. At all times throughout the campaign he has displayed outstanding engineering technique and resourcefulness.
He died in Woking, Surrey on 14.10.1979
