A rare 'Efficiency Decoration India' World Wars medal group of 8: Lieutenant-Colonel Donald Macaulay, E.D., East Bengal Railway Battalion (AFI) late Royal Engineers & Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders

- 1914-15 Star (S-11371 Pte D. Mac Aulay. Cam'n Highrs)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (Lieut. D. Mac Aulay.)
- Interallied Victory Medals (Lieut. D. Mac Aulay.)
- The 1939-1945 Star. No clasp (Lt.Col. D. Macauly E.B.R.BN. A.F.I.)
- The Burma Star. No clasp (Lt.Col. D. Macauly E.B.R.BN. A.F.I.)
- War Medal Medal (Lt.Col. D. Macauly E.B.R.BN., A.F.I.)
- Coronation Medal 1937 (Capt D. Macaulay)
- Efficiency Decoration 'India' (Maj. D. Macaulay. E.B. RY. BN. A.F.I.)

The recipients surname, Macaulay, spelled & in different styles. The Second World War campaign medals and Coronation Medal privately engraved. The integral top 'India' bar on the Efficiency Decoration 'India', with pin & clasp removed to facilitate mounting

Wounded-in-Action: In September 1915, at Battle of Loos, while serving with 5th (Service) Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders ('The Roll of Honour of the Royal High School of Edinburgh 1914-1918' refers)

Medals verification: The Second World War campaign medal rolls for the Indian Army including Auxiliary Force India units, are not in the public domain. However recipient is confirmed having served in the Second World War (appears in Indian Army Lists) and the Eastern Bengal Railway Battalion - that was based in the qualifying area for the Burma Star - was mobilized

The campaign and Efficiency medals verified as entitled per respective medal rolls, India Army Lists and Gazette of India as under:

- 1914-15 Star: WO 329/2804. Shows disembarked France 10/05/15. Commissioned 28/01/16. Medal issued 25/10/21
- British War Medal: WO 329/1665. Shows served with 5th (Service) Battalion Queen's Own Highlanders
- Interallied Victory Medals: WO 329/1665. Shows served with 5th (Service) Battalion Queen's Own Highlanders
- The 1939-1945 Star. No clasp: Awarded for
- The Burma Star. No clasp: Awarded for
- War Medal: Recipient in IA Lists 1939 to October 1945. Medal awarded 28 days aggregated service 1939-1945
- Coronation Medal: Awarded per India allocation in Coronation Medal 1937
- Efficiency Decoration: Gazette of India 3 January 1942

Important: (Reference (John Tamplin, ) the Efficiency Decoration 'India' is one only an estimated 116 x gazetted awards of the GVI issue Efficiency Decoration 'India' awarded 1937-1947

The Eastern Bengal Railway Battalion (Auxiliary Force India) 1939-1945: Reference 'The Auxiliary Force India And It's Predecessors With Medal Roll Of The Volunteer Long Service Medal (India)' (Alan Harfield, 2015):

Quote,

The strength of the as of 3 September 1939 was 562 with 217 being Active and 345 Reservists. The composition was shown as being forty-one European and 521 Anglo-Indian. Following the declaration of war on 3 September 1939 the Battalion was called upon to provide guards at various vulnerable posts. During the 1942 rebellion the unit provided five officers and 102 other ranks to serve on train patrols. From 28 May 1942, the greater part of those serving were transferred to the Defence of India Corps. The much-reduced strength was shown, as at 31 December 1944, as fifty-three , with forty-two being Active and eleven Resrvists, and of these four were European and forty-nine Anglo-Indian. During the period between 3 September 1939 and 31 December 1944 two men were commissioned into the regular forces and fifty-three enlisted as other ranks

Unquote

The Eastern Bengal Railway Battalion was disbanded on 14 August 1947

Donald Macaulay, eldest son of Scottish parents, Donald Macaulay (a Chemist and Druggist) and Lilias Mary Macaulay (nee Stewart), was born at Alnwick, Northumberland, England, on 4 June 1895. In the 1901 National Census for England and Wales, Donald is shown living together with his parents and younger Brother, William Stewart Macaulay, at their residence located at Clive Cottage, Alnwick, Northumberland, England. By 1911, the family had re-located back to Scotland, where the 1911 National Census for Scotland, records Donald living at Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland. Between 1907-1911 Donald was educated at the Royal High School Edinburgh. Donald accepted an apprenticeship with the North British Railway, where he worked at the Cowlairs Works, Glasgow, 1911-1914, during which time (1912-1914) he also pursued his higher education as a student of the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, where he took a Mechanical Engineering course, before his studies were interrupted by the events of the Great War. Donald was a very early 'Patriotic' volunteer, who enlisted in the British Army in September 1914, ad was posted to the 5th (Service) Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.Reference 'Roll of Honour of the Royal High School of Edinburgh. (1914-1918.)' the recipients Great War services are recorded as:

Quote,

Private, 5th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, September 1914: 2nd Lieutenant, January 1916; Lieutenant, May 191 7, and Acting Captain, January 1918 ; attached 5th Battalion, September 1914; 8th Battalion, January 1916 ; 6th Battalion, June 1916; and 63rd Broad Gauge Workshop Company, Royal Engineers, May 191 7. Wounded at Loos, September 191 5.

Unquote.

After his commission and transfer to the Royal Engineers, Donald, was posted to the Base Locomotive Works located at Rouen France, where he was later in charge of the Foundry, and later was in placed in command of while in charge of the Carriage and Wagon Out-Station, at Calais, France

Post-war, Donald returned to his native Scotland, where in 1919 he was employed as a 'Fireman' with the North British Railway, at Eastfield, Glasgow. In 1920, Donald accepted an appointment to work overseas in British India - and a career as an expatriate railway engineer - that stretched for more than 27 years. Between the years 1920-1930, Donald's employment history in British India comprised:

- 1920-25: Employed with Indian State Railways in several capacities as Assistant Locomotive Superintendent in below following capacities;
- 1920-22: Asst to Dist Loco Sup't, Eastern Bengal Railway, Calcutta
- 1922-24: Asst to Dist Loco Sup't, Oudh & Rohilkand Railway, Lucknow, later Personal Asst to Running Supt
- 1925-27: Sup't. Power. Lucknow Div. Oudh & Rohilkand Railway, & later East India Railway on amalgamation
- 1928-30: Dist Loco Sup't, Lalmanishit, Eastern Bengal Railway
- 1930-33: Works Manager, Eastern Bengal Railway, Metre Gauge Loco Workshops, Saidpur

The Indian Army Lists 1939 through to October 1945, continue to list Donald Macaulay under the regimental lists of the Eastern Bengal Railway Battalion, He was promoted Major on 1 June 1940, and in October 1945 is shown as Major (Hony' Lt-Col.)

Donald was twice married. Firstly he married Janet Beryl Watson at Calcutta, India, on 1 June 1923 (Janet died in Hampshire, England, on 15 January 1952). Secondly, as a Widower he married Rona Ritchie Forbes at Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland, in 1953. In the post-war years, Donald retired from his appointment as a Locomotive Engineer in India and returned to the United Kingdom, where he latterly resided at Nightingale Cottage, Ringwood Cottage. Verwood, Dorset, England. Donald Macaulay is recorded to have died at his home in Dorset on, 2 May 1973

The medals professionally mounted in the swing-style, with the Efficiency Decoration with superb refurbished gilding. The medals suspended from a white metal mounting bar, this latter retaining its long hinged pin & clasp fittings

An extremely rare Efficiency Decoration 'India' group to a well documented and long serving 'Railway Man' who served in both World Wars

Condition: GVF

Code: 24556