Major J R H Orr

[Jerry B]

Does anyone one have any information on this officer. It is on a 1944 dated SD tunic, made in India and it has RWF buttons and traces that it used to have a flash on the back. It appears to have been messed with as the rank insignia does not match the gorget patches, but the buttons appear to be original to it, though a few have been restitched at some time. As an aside, I have a pre war RWF officers coloured side cap by the same maker, which might or might not be significant. I might have missread the label, also it has some other annotations on it which I do not yet understand.

I have looked in Red Dragon and That Astonishing Infantry and he is not listed in either.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

[Aled Roberts]

He is a work in progress for my post WWII Gallantry work. Not stitched to WWII entry yet.

Colonel J R H Orr CBE
John Reginald Henry Orr (380336) As Lieutenant Colonel he was awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s 1953 Coronation list. As Colonel for Services in Kenya he was awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.


OBE London Gazette 1st June 1953
CBE London Gazette 19th June 1955

[Jerry B]

He is a work in progress for my post WWII Gallantry work. Not stitched to WWII entry yet.

Colonel J R H Orr CBE
John Reginald Henry Orr (380336) As Lieutenant Colonel he was awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s 1953 Coronation list. As Colonel for Services in Kenya he was awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.


OBE London Gazette 1st June 1953
CBE London Gazette 19th June 1955

Thank you very much for this Richard. Here is part of his tunic showing his medal ribbons, which include the OBE and a MID for Kenya.

[Aled Roberts]

Thanks Jerry

I am sure there will be more to come on him - focusing on the pictures first before filling in peoples service. I need to follow up on that MiD emblem.....

So, here is a picture of Orr - it might even be the very jacket!

Richard

3354

[Jerry B]

Thanks Jerry

I am sure there will be more to come on him - focusing on the pictures first before filling in peoples service. I need to follow up on that MiD emblem.....

So, here is a picture of Orr - it might even be the very jacket!

Richard

3354

Thanks again Richard, it is so good to put face to him.

In the picture he appears to be wearing an economy 1940 pattern BD blouse.

[ap1]

Richard I know you have all this, but for Jerry's benefit:

Correct about the BD Jerry. Its from a 1948 Shooting team pic of 1RWF.

In Regimental Records it is also noted he was later Brig JRH Orr CBE..1908-1968
Service No 380336.

His CBE was added to his OBE for his Kenya service 53-55 with 70(EA) Bde.
His MID as a Brig!! in 1954 with 70 Bde.
His OBE was from his service(I assume as CO) with 23 Kings African Rifles in 1952 as a Lt Col. (possibly 2nd/3rd Bn)*.

*Wiki- 2nd/3rd Battalion, a reserve unit, was raised during the military phase of the emergency in Kenya and was under consideration for disbandment by 1957.[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King's_African_Rifles#cite_note-3)

[Jerry B]

Thanks for adding the extra information.

Am I correct in assuming his highest rank was Brigadier?

As far as his earlier service goes, I found two entries in the London Gazette from 1928 and 1930 which have him listed as unattached in the Indian Army.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33417/page/5773

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33573/page/503




Richard I know you have all this, but for Jerry's benefit:

Correct about the BD Jerry. Its from a 1948 Shooting team pic of 1RWF.

In Regimental Records it is also noted he was later Brig JRH Orr CBE..1908-1968
Service No 380336.

His CBE was added to his OBE for his Kenya service 53-55 with 70(EA) Bde.
His MID as a Brig!! in 1954 with 70 Bde.
His OBE was from his service(I assume as CO) with 23 Kings African Rifles in 1952 as a Lt Col. (possibly 2nd/3rd Bn)*.

*Wiki- 2nd/3rd Battalion, a reserve unit, was raised during the military phase of the emergency in Kenya and was under consideration for disbandment by 1957.[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King's_African_Rifles#cite_note-3)

[ap1]

Thats correct…in Jon Rileys Regimental Records.

The prior Indian Army service might account for a lack of mentions in Red Dragon in relation to WW2. Then he suddenly pops up as a Company Comd from Feb 1948 with the 1st Bn at Hubbelrath.

Heres another mention: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Ea0guu42mQEC&pg=PA132&lpg=PA132&dq=brig+jrh+orr&source=bl&ots=AaPGYRADws&sig=UX544vFFin6YmEGO7yA8OMa7D44&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DcxfU_iqKcaSO8KKgbgP&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=brig%20jrh%20orr&f=false

[Jerry B]

Thanks again.

I'll give Jon a shout tomorrow if he is in and ask if I can have a look at a copy of it. I almost bought a copy when I was in the museum the other week.


Thats correct…in Jon Rileys Regimental Records.

The prior Indian Army service might account for a lack of mentions in Red Dragon in relation to WW2. Then he suddenly pops up as a Company Comd from Feb 1948 with the 1st Bn at Hubbelrath.

Heres another mention: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Ea0guu42mQEC&pg=PA132&lpg=PA132&dq=brig+jrh+orr&source=bl&ots=AaPGYRADws&sig=UX544vFFin6YmEGO7yA8OMa7D44&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DcxfU_iqKcaSO8KKgbgP&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=brig%20jrh%20orr&f=false

[Jerry B]

In April 1944 in the announcement of the birth of a child in India, he is listed as being a member of the 11th Prince Albert Victor’s Own Cavalry (Frontier Force). His wife is named as Patricia (nee Willis).

[Jerry B]

He was listed as Lt. colonel with the 6th Mahrattas 23rd Indian div, 34th indian Corps on his GSM medal and with SE Asia 1945/46 clasp document.