A 'Wounded-in-Action Burma Casualty' & Post War Malaya Civil Service group: Commissioner of Lands & Mines, Major 'Dato' Maxwell John Trewlany McCann, D.P.M.J., P.J.K., Malayan Civil Service, late 2nd Bn Cameronians & att'd 4th Bn 1st Gurkha Rifles

- The 1939-45 Star
- The Burma Star
- Defence Medal
- War Medal
- Malaysia: Terengganu: Meritorious Service Medal (Mr M. J. T. McCann M.C.S. 11 July 1959)

The Meritorious Service Medal (Pingat Jasa Kebaktian), with obverse of Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah obverse (issued 1951-1979)

Important: Confirmed 'Wounded-in-Action' Burma, 24 January 1944, 2nd Battalion Cameronians, attached 4th Battalion 1st Gurkha Rifles (Ref British Army Casualty Lists WO 417/5)

Note: The recipient is also recorded as having been decorated by the state of Johore, viz The Sultans Birthday Honours List for 1960, with the Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Johore (or, Darjah Mahkota Johor Yang Amat Mulia - d.p.m.j.). 2nd Class. On which occasion - Sultan Ismail's 66th birthday - 39 x persons were decorated for service to Johore (ref 'Straits Times' issue of 28 October 1960). This prestigious order confers the title of 'Dato' on the recipient

Maxwell John Trewlany McCann, son of William John McCann (Lieutenant Royal Munster Fusiliers) and Zella Josephine McCann, was a native of Scotland (in 1946 he had been residing at Gilmour Road, Edinburgh, Scotland. Maxwell, was born in Dinapore, British India on 9 October 1921. On 26 April 1941, was granted an emergency commission (Officer No 184518) and appointed Second Lieutenant in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), being posted to the 2nd Battalion of that regiment, which was serving in India. From circa 1942-1944, Maxwell was attached to the 4th Battalion 1st Gurkha Rifles, and saw extensive service with that battalion in Burma, becoming Company Commander of 'B Company' 4/1 GR. During the Second Arakan Campaign, Major McCann was Wounded-in-Action at 'Abel' on, 24 January 1944 (4/1 GR sustained 60 casualties during their fight at Abel, including 17 x Gurkhas killed ; 2 x British Officers wounded (including McCann); 1 x Gurkha officer and another 40 x Gurkha Other-Ranks wounded. Major McCann is also confirmed as having led his company during the bitter fighting at Kohima. Major McCann later served with the Regimental Centre of 1 GR and the 14th Gurkha Rifles. Post war, Maxwell left the British Army, and in 1946 he accepted an appointment with the Colonial Service to serve overseas in the Malayan Civil Service. On 6 February 1952, Lieutenant (War Substantive Captain) McCann, relinquished his Emergency Commission, at which time he was granted the honorary rank of Major. By 1960, he was holding the appointment of Commissioner of Lands and Mines in Johore, having previously held the same appointment in Terengganu State. In respect of his services in Terengganu and Johore, Maxwell McCann was decorated by both of these Malaysian states - constituting a rare brace of Malaysian awards to a British recipient

After leaving the Malaysian Civil Service, Maxell pursued a career with the British Foreign Office as a Diplomat and Development Officer, in the period circa 1961-1987, during which time he is recorded holding positions variously in Indonesia, Cambodia and in Thailand. Maxwell John Trewlany McCann is reported to have died in Thailand, sometime in 1987

All medals retaining their original issue ribands. The Malaysian riband fitted with a mounting bar with hinged pin and clasp fittings as issued

A rare ensemble to a Scottish Officer 'Wounded-in-Action' in Burma as a Company Commander leading an attack of 4/1st Gurkha Rifles into battle against the Imperial Japanese Army

Condition: Malaysian medal with edge bruise about EF

Code: 22872