The important 1953 'Malaya Emergency' C.B.E., Second War immediate 'Arnhem operations' D.S.O...

‘During the night 25/26 Sep the 1st Airborne Div were evacuated from the North Bank of the Neder Rijn just West of Arnhem.... The entire arrangements for launching the boats, taping the routes and bringing back officers and men were the responsibility of Lt. Col Henniker. This officer planned the operation, using every conceivable type of boat and raft and personally directed the work throughout the night from the river bank - often under heavy and accurate mortar and MG fire... I regard this officer’s splendid work as the main factor in the successful rescue of between 2000 and 3000 All Ranks of the 1st Airborne Div.’ (Taken from the Recommendation for the award of an Immediate D.S.O. to Henniker, written by Major-General G. I. Thomas, Officer Commanding 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, and endorsed by Field Marshal Montgomery) The important 1953 ‘Malaya Emergency’ C.B.E., Second War immediate ‘Arnhem operations’ D.S.O., rare ‘Mohmand 1933’ M.C. group of twelve awarded to Brigadier Sir Mark ‘Honker’ Henniker, Royal Engineers - one of the founders of the 1st Airborne Division, and a member of ‘Boy’ Browning’s ‘Dungeon Party’. A true character, highly intelligent, and a man of action, he honed his skills on the North West Frontier, and successfully escaped with his men from the beaches of Dunkirk in a rowing boat! As the first Chief Royal Engineer, 1st Airborne Division, Henniker was integral to the planning of the famous Bruneval Raid, February 1942, and the attempted destruction of the Heavy Water Production Plant at Telemark, Norway, in November of the same year. He once again helped plan the airborne element of the invasion of Sicily, and took part in the airborne landings of Operation Husky, flying in by glider as part of HQ 1st Airlanding Brigade in July 1943. Despite being wounded by shrapnel and breaking his arm, the unit Henniker was with captured an Italian Coastal Battery and took over 90 Prisoners of War. Commandeering an airborne engineer with a motorcycle, Henniker made his way to the Ponte Grande to ensure that the enemy demolition charges had been removed. He then joined up with the landing force and made his way to assist in the relief of the 1st Parachute Brigade at Primosole Bridge. He ‘continued to fight, though swathed in bandages.’ His was not a ‘quiet’ war: Henniker then took part in the seaborne landings at Taranto, and was once again prominent in a boat (on this occasion a dingy in a partly-cleared minefield) when coming to the rescue of the survivors of H.M.S. Abdiel, the latter having hit a mine in Taranto Harbour on 10 September 1943. The pinnacle of his career was to arrive when serving as C.R.E., 43rd (Wessex Division) during Operation Market Garden. Henniker was responsible for the planning and execution of Operation Berlin - the iconic night-time evacuation of the remnants of the beleaguered 1st Airborne Division under Roy Urquhart, trapped in German-occupied territory north of the Lower Rhine and just West of Arnhem. On the night of 25-26 September 1944, Henniker executed his intricate plan and secured the rescue of some 2,400 men across the Lower Rhine, in all manner of boats and rafts - all under heavy fire, and all personally directed by him throughout the night from his position on the river bank The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd type, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated ‘1945’, with integral top riband bar, reverse centre slightly loose; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Mohmand 1933 (Lieut. M. C. A. Henniker. M.C., R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Malaya, Near East, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Brig. M. C. A. Henniker. C.B.E. D.S.O. M.C. Staff.) second clasp loose as issued, with official corrections; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued, breast awards mounted as originally worn, with enclosure for Near East M.I.D. emblem, cleaned, generally very fine unless otherwise already stated (12) £60,000-£80,000 --- C.B.E. London Gazette 30 October 1953. The original recommendation states: ‘Brigadier Henniker has Commanded with skill and energy 63 Gurkha Infantry Brigade. He has worked with great determination to bring to a successful conclusion his campaign against the Communist Terrorists in the States of Negri Sembilan and Malacca, the area for which he and his Brigade are responsible. In the latter he has very nearly achieved his object. He never spares himself in travelling long distances over difficult roads regardless of any lurking dangers to see and visit the troops under his Command and his leadership and direction has resulted in many successes for the units under his Command. He has shown balance and co-operation in his dealings with the Civil Administration and the Police and it has been by this close co-operation that so much has been achieved in his area. He has led his Brigade carefully and confidently and has done much over and above the normal run of his duties to further the efforts of everyone in bringing the Emergency in Malaya to a successful conclusion.’ O.B.E. London Gazette 24 August 1944 (Italy). The original recommendation states: ‘Lt. Col. Henniker’s handling of the limited engineer resources of the division from the time of landing at Taranto until the arrival of 5 Corps, was outstanding. His foresight contributed to a degree to the opening up of communications by road and rail, to the functioning of the docks in Taranto and to the bringing into use of the aerodromes at Gioja and Bari.’ D.S.O. London Gazette 1 March 1945. The original recommendation states: ‘During the night 25/26 Sep the 1st Airborne Div were evacuated from the North Bank of the Nedder Rijn just West of Arnhem. The entire arrangements for launching the boats, taping the routes and bringing back officers and men were the responsibility of Lt. Col Henniker. This officer planned the operation, using every conceivable type of boat and raft and personally directed the work throughout the night from the river bank - often under heavy and accurate mortar and MG fire. His example, and fine control, were throughout an inspiration to all and acted as a stimulus to the many feats of bravery performed by all ranks. I regard this officer’s splendid work as the main factor in the successful rescue of between 2000 and 3000 All Ranks of the 1st Airborne Div. His fine leadership and disregard of his own safety were in the best traditions of The Corps.’ M.C. London Gazette 3 July 1934: ‘For distinguished services rendered in the field in connection with military operations against the Upper Mohmands, period July - October 1933.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 31 May 1955 (Malaya) and 13 June 1957 (Near East) Sir Mark Chandos Auberon ‘Honker’ Henniker, 8th Bt., was the son of Frederick Henniker and was born in Minehead, Somerset, in January 1906. He was educated at Marlborough College, The Royal Military Academy Woolwich, and King’s College, Cambridge. Elephants on Parade! Henniker was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1926, and served attached to the Bengal Sappers and Miners on the North West Frontier. During his time there he gained a reputation as a bit of a character, and ‘enjoyed being saluted by his elephants when an officer of the Raj. If he was wearing uniform, he saluted back; if in...