The Second World War Japanese internee group of five medals to Major Donald Honey Grist (OBE)

The Second World War Japanese internee group of five medals to Major Donald Honey Grist (OBE), Federated Malay States Volunteer Force, agricultural expert: 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Decoration (Malaya), George VI (GRI), reverse engraved (MJR. D.H. GRIST F.W.S.V.F.); mounted for wearing, all about good very fine; with a mounted set of dress miniatures corresponding to the foregoing but commencing with an OBE badge, extremely fine; offered together with a large archive of ephemera, original and scans/transcripts, including correspondence, diary excerpts and paintings, the latter produced by the recipient's wife Isobel while they were both interned in Changi Prison Camp, and depicting scenes of camp life.

D.H. Grist studied at the University of Cambridge School of Agriculture (Diploma), before becoming an officer of the Colonial Agricultural Service, in the service of the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States. Having previously spent four years in the 1st Bn Cambridgeshire Regiment, he joined the ranks of the Malay States Volunteer Rifles in 1915, before obtaining a commission in the Malay Volunteer Infantry, which he held until 1935. He captained the F.M.S. rifle team in the 1930s, and competed for them at Bisley. On the outbreak of the Second World War he was on leave in England, and he applied for a commission in the army, but was advised that his services were of greater use to the Colonial Service, and so returned to his duties in the East, and was interned as civilian, together with his wife Isobel. He was a published expert on rice, and copy of his book 'Rice', is offered with this lot. His O.B.E. (not present in the lot) was gazette in December 1976.

The paintings included in this lot are of particular importance, Prisoners experienced great difficulty in obtaining (and retaining) the even basic necessities of life, and Isobel Grist was usual in being able to produce these paintings and preserve them through her captivity, until her liberation. Her family recount that she secured her watercolour paints mere moments before being marched off to Changi, and that brushes were made for her by other prisoners using human hair.