A Good Officers WW2 Long Service and Malaya group – Royal Engineers, Bridging Company on Sword Beach, D-Day

Description A Good Officers WW2 Long Service and Malaya group – Royal Engineers, Bridging Company on Sword Beach, D-Day 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., Regular Army, Lieut. R. L. Blackborow. R.E. swing mounted for wear. With a loose General Service 1918-62, E.II.R., clasp, Malaya, ,Major R. L. Blackborow. R.E. Richard Leslie Blackborow was born in Alverstoke, Hampshire, on 7 June 1908. He attested into the Royal Engineers 7 May 1923 as a Boy Bugler, and was advanced Sergeant on 8 April 1936. Postings included several different Companies of the 1st Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Battalion from 15 March 1929 to 31 January 1936; Hampshire Fortress Engineers (Territorial Army) and No 1 Chemical Welfare Training Battalion; having served in the ranks for 16 years and 237 days he was commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 9 December 1939, and was advanced temporary Major on 17 April 1942. During the Second World War he was attached to the 106 Bridge Company, Royal Army Service Corps from 1 October 1943; this unit landed on Sword Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944, and followed the first wave of airborne troops in order to build bridges to continue the advance into France. Blackborow was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 30 January 1948, and having been awarded the Coronation Medal in 1953 saw further service in Malaya during the Emergency. He finally retired on 17 June 1963 having reach the age limit after an impressive forty years’ service. He died in Worthing, Sussex, in April 1990, aged 81. Condition – VF