A very scarce British Officers Second World War Burma Campaign and post-war Indian Independence Medal group of 5: Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Archibold Conlay, Royal Engineers

- The 1939-45 Star. No clasp
- The Burma Star. No clasp
- War Medal
- India Service Medal
- India Independence Medal (Lt Col R.A. Conlay. R.E.)

The India Independence Medal with officially impressed naming

Medals Verification: No Second World War or Indian Independence medal rolls for British Officers of the British Army or Indian Army are accessible in the public domain. However, the recipients entitlement to all medals can be derived form the respective obituary published in the Royal Engineers Journal, and United Kingdom Passenger Shipping Manifests 

- The 1939-45 Star. No clasp: Awarded for aggregate 180 days operational service 1939-45 (See recipient obituary)
- The Burma Star. No clasp: Awarded for 1 day operational service in theatre on strength of a unit (See recipient obituary0
- War Medal: Awarded for 28 Days service 1939-45
- India Service Medal: Aggregate 3 years non-operational service (a British national 'must' have been ordinarily resident in India in 1939)
- India Independence Medal: Awarded to BO's for service with the India Army on/after 1 January 1948 (UK Passenger Manifests confirm return to UK in 1948) 

Medals

The Royal Engineers Journal issue of June 1966 (No.2), included the below following obituary:

Quote.

LIEUT-COLONEL R. A. CONLAY RALPH ARCHIBOLD CONLAY, who died at Bexhill-on-Sea on 30 March 1966, was the son of the late W. L. Conlay Esq, Commissioner of Police, Malaya. Educated at Cheltenham College, he entered the Shop in 1921, and was commissioned in the Corps on 31 January 1923. 

He embarked for India in 1925, and remained on the Indian Establishment of the Corps for twenty-two years, until reverting Home in 1947. 

Ralph had a bent towards mechanics and mathematics. He took an E and M course, and was one of those unassuming, conscientious, and very energetic Sappers who have always done so much of the real work of the Corps. Except for a brief tour as Staff Officer for Personnel with the Engineer-in-Chief at Simla Headquarters, he was always to be found where the burden was heaviest, and the heat of the day, hottest. 

War service took him to the building of airfields and petrol installations in Northern Assam. At the end of the war he worked in the Directorate of Munitions Production, India, where the major planning of India's war effort was taking place. From there he moved on to the execution of the field investigations for the Damodar River Project, Bihar. 

On reversion to the Home Establishment in 1947, Ralph Conlay became CRE London District at a busy time, when the end-of-war disorder was still being cleared up, and the major reconstruction of barracks and military establishments was being planned and put into execution. He held this appointment until his retirement in 1952, when he became, as a "Retired Officer", Garrison Engineer, Woolwich, a posting inside his own recent CRE's charge. This is unusual but, of course, it did not trouble Ralph, who was quite unconcerned with questions of rank and prestige so long as he had an honest job of work to do. 

In his later years he moved from his home in Mayfield to Bexhill-on-Sea, where his energy still remained high, despite failing health.

Tributes received after his death reveal his many voluntary activities. Of some of these, even his close friends, who thought they knew him well, were unaware. He worked on social service with the Sisters of St Anne, and was Treasurer of the Beth Holme House Children's Holiday Fund, and of the local branch of the Conservative Association. Even these activities did not satisfy his zeal and abounding energy. He was a keen gardener, and undertook, from time to time, the tutoring of children in mathematics, a subject in which he had never lost his interest. 

Ralph was a true Sapper, able to turn his hand to anything. He will be sadly missed. It is only to be hoped that the Corps retains its ability to raise officers like this. 

He married Sylvia MacNaughton in 1932 at The Holy Trinity Church, Brompton, London, and leaves his widow, three daughters and two grandsons to mourn his loss. Our sympathy goes out to them. 

C.F.W.M.

Unquote.

Note: Contrary to above, Lt-Colonel R. A. Conlay continued to serve in India on and after 1 January 1948 (qualifying for the Indian Independence Medal for service in India on and after 1 January 1948). Passenger shipping manifests for arrivals into the United Kingdom, record that Lt-Colonel A. R. (ioc) Conlay arrived at the Port of Liverpool, England, on, 6 June 1948, having prior embarked at Calcutta aboard the Harrison Line, vessel S.S. 'Rancher'

Condition: Mostly about EF

Code: 25636