Unique Defence of Singapore 1941/42 Colonial Fire Brigade Me...

Estimate

£6,000 - £8,000

Unique Defence of Singapore 1941/42 Colonial Fire Brigade Medal For Gallantry to Sub-Off Leonard F. Phipps Singapore Fire Brigade good extremely fine in Royal Mint case of issue. With a typed copy of the citation: "As Officer-in-charge Geylang Division, Singapore Municipal Fire Department, Divisional Officer Phipps displayed outstanding personal courage and devotion to duty throughout the battle for Singapore. In the early days by courageous leadership his efforts to confine a fierce fire caused by a direct bomb hit on the Asiatic Petroleum Company's Bulk Storage Depot at Kallang, was successful and the depot was saved. Later during very heavy bombing and while under machine gun fire from the air he continued working on Kallang Aerodrome and led his men to extinguish fire after fire involving grounded aircraft on the aerodrome and in the adjacent hangers. The outstanding work done by Divisional Officer Phipps cannot be praised too highly."
With the fall of Singapore to the Japanese, Phipps went into captivity and was held in the notorious Changi Prison. The award was not announced in the London Gazette until after the war on 16th August 1946 erroneously listed with 3 Police Officers for the award of the Colonial Police Medal For Gallantry.
Sold with 3 original photos of the recipient in uniform including the medal being presented by The Singapore Governor, Sir Franklin Gimson on 28th November 1946. Just before Singapore fell, he was able to get his wife Mrs Phipps (nee Hunt) on one of the last escaping ships which safely evacuated her to Australia. After the end of the war, the Phipps's returned to Singapore and he resumed his career with the Singapore Fire Brigade.
Sold with some additional copied family documents including sketch of Phipps in Changi 1943, sketch of Changi prison cell with 3 inmates etc. Also with CD with almost 90 copied photos, mostly of Singapore Fire Brigade including post-war. He died on 1st August 1964 in Bentley, Hampshire. It is thought that only a handful of Colonial Fire Brigade Medals have been issued for gallantry. Sold on behalf of the family, never before on the market. (See photos) (R)