Monday 11 March 2013

Major Justin Saltonstall Dawbarn, Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps, late Leicestershire Regiment and Machine Gun Corps. WWI and WWII Group of Six.


1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., Leic. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major); Defence, unnamed; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘Capt. J. S. Dawbarn, P. & P.W.V.C.’, with top bar; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service, G.V.R. (Capt., P. & P.W.V.C.)

Major Justin Saltonstall Dawbarn, Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps, late Leicestershire Regiment and Machine Gun Corps



Justin Saltonstall Dawbarn was born in Wisbech, Norfolk, on 10 August 1890. Educated at Oundle School, he arrived in Penang, Straits Settlements, in 1913, joining a firm of share brokers. He returned to England on the outbreak of war and on 20 November 1914 was granted a commission as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry, having been a former Cadet in the Oundle O.T.C. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, he went to France in June 1915 and promoted to Temporary Lieutenant on 16 July 1915. He was seconded to the Machine Gun Corps on 21 December 1915 and promoted to Temporary Captain, M.G.C., on 16 February 1918 and latterly became an Acting Major. In May 1918 Dawbarn was seriously wounded in action and was captured by the Germans. Temporary Captain Dawbarn relinquished his commission on 17 June 1920, and was granted the rank of Major. 

Returning to Malaya after the war, he joined Borneo Co., Ltd. in June 1920 and then Malayan American Plantations Ltd. as Office Manager and Accountant in July 1922. On 1 January 1922 he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps where he commanded the European Machine Gun Platoon. As a Captain, he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces L.S. Medal, published in the Straits Settlements Government Gazette of 12 July 1929. One year later he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, published in the Straits Settlements Government Gazette of 8 May 1930. Latterly living at Hunstanton, Norfolk, Major Dawbarn died on 28 October 1968. 

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