Description
A RARE M.B.E. and M.S.M. group to the A.T.S.late Women’s Royal Army Corps.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E., Military Division; Defence Medal; War Medal; Coronation 1953; Army Long Service and Good Conduct, E.II.R., W/7436 W.O.CL.2. C.M.Savage. M.B.E. WRAC.; Army Meritorious Service Medal, E.II.R. , W/7436 W.O.CL.2. C.M.Savage. M.B.E. WRAC., Efficiency Medal G.VI.R.with Territorial bar and second award bar, W.7436 W.O.CL.1. C.M.Savage. M.B.E.. A.T.S.
M.B.E. London Gazette 13.6.1946.
Included with the medals is the Warrant for the M.B.E., Buckingham Palace slip, Warrant dated 9th March 1954, copy letter relating to the MBE, photograph of her in uniform, Coronation 1953 certificate, letter that would have accompanied the MSM dated 19.10.1967, Regular Army Certificate of Service confirming enlistment on 30th September 1939 and Discharge on 29th March 1967 as well as medal entitlement, box and card outer for the M.B.E..
MSM’s to female recipients are extremely rare, it is almost certain that this is a unique combination of awards.
Constance Mary Savage was born on the 3rd November 1914 in Swansea, the daughter of Frederick Raymond, and Ada Ann Savage.
By the census in June 1921 they were still living at Margaret Terrace Swansea..
By 1939 she was living with her parents and was employed as a stationary shop assistant, and had registered to serve in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. She was finally called up and enlisted at Swansea on the 30th September 1939 into the A.T.S.
By 1941 she was posted to the A.T.S. group in Donnington, Shropshire, where she was the youngest R.S.M. in the A.T.S Donnington, which was one of the latest military stores in Europe.
As recognition of her outstanding work at Donnington between 1941 to 1946 she was appointed to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. She was in charge of 3,500 girls The award being published in the London Gazette on the 13th June 1946.
On the 1st July 1949 she was posted to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Land Forces for over two years returning to the UK on the 7th February 1952. By this time she would have received her T.E.M.
Appointed Warrant Officer on the 1st April 1952.
Awarded the Coronation medal in 1953 (Award certificate included with the medals)
On the 16th March 1954 she passed first in class in all educational subjects.
By cica 1962 nearing the end of her service she was appointed as recruiting officer for the Birmingham District Recruiting Office, and by 1967 had received her Regular Army Long Service and Good Conduct medal. which was presented to her by Lieut Col E.L.C. Edlmann.
On the 29th March 1967 she retired having served 27 years and 181 days, making Birmingham her home at Wylie Green, Sutton Coldfield., moving in 1970 to Birmingham Road.
During her first year of retirement she received the Meritorious Service Medal, a rare award to a woman.
In about 2002 she moved to Roxton During Home , and died on the 26th June 2004 aged 90, she is buried in Sutton Coldfield., New Hall Cemetery.
With a good file of research, including copied Birth and death certificates, copied newspaper articles and photos of her houses, Nursing home and the Church she attended in Sutton COldfield where she ran the Brownies, and chaired the Women’s guild.
Provenance Bonhams December 2007
Condition – Some light polishing and contact wear, otherwise very fine.
