An Impressive WW2, Malaya G.S.M., L.S.&G.C. with 2nd Award Bar, M.S.M Group of Eight Medals awarded to WO2, later Major R. Taylor, Royal Army Pay Corps and Royal Corps of Signals.

Ronald Taylor was born in Crewe, Cheshire, on June 28th 1923. At the outbreak of WW2 he joined the Home Guard (1939) where he served until he turned 18 and was able to enlist into the regular Army.

He enlisted into the Royal Army Pay Corps in Cheshire and was initially posted to RPO Edinburgh, where he was subsequently posted to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at Fort George.

This posting did not suit his adventurous spirit so he transferred to the Royal Signals, volunteering to be a Despatch Rider, and was posted to the 8th Army in Egypt. He served in the Sicily landings and subsequently in Italy where he was attached to General Montgomery’s H.Q.

After the War he served in Vienna as a Section Sergeant, but transferred back to RAPC in 1951.

In 1956 he was posted to RPO Nottingham where he met his wife to be, Lois Angell, who was also working there as a Sergeant with the W.R.A.C. He was subsequently posted to Devizes as a Staff Sergeant Instructor on UPC Courses, and then to Malaya attached to the Gurkha Signals Regiment.

He was awarded his L.S.&.G.C in 1959 and promoted to WO2 with a posting to 1st/2nd Gurkha Rifles at Johore Bahru, moving with them to Singapore. A four year posting to RPO Brighton followed, and during this posting, Taylor was recommended for the M.S.M., and he then volunteered to instruct at the Far East Pay Duties School in Singapore. His Meritorious Service Meal was presented by Brigadier W.E. Cooper on the 25th November 1969 at the Command Pay Office, Singapore.

Ronald Taylor was commissioned as Captain (Assistant Paymaster) on the 2nd January 1972, serving as Paymaster at Aldershot with 13 Signals Regiment and then posted to Blandford (Signals) in 1976.

He was awarded his clasp to his L.S.&G.C. (London Gazette 15th November 1977), promoted Major (Assistant Paymaster) on the 11th June 1978 and retired on the 11th June 1980.

Major Ronald Taylor died on the 19th October 1988 at Poole, Dorset.

The group is mounted for display, sold with some good copied research (including a picture of him being presented with his M.S.M.) and are as follow -

1939/45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Defence Medal; 1939/45 War Medal, all unnamed as awarded; ERII General Service Medal, clasp, Malaya, 10400148 SSGT R TAYLOR RAPC; ERII Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, Regular Army, second award clasp, 10400148 SSGT R TAYLOR RAPC; ERII Meritorious Service Medal, 10400148 WO2 R TAYLOR RAPC R

Condition, nearly extremely fine

Please note the ‘R’ on the naming of the M.S.M. denoting Replacement.