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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 323

(x) The 'Spanish Flu 1919' O.B.E., 'Egypt' M.C. group of five awarded to Major W. F. T. Haultain, Royal Army Medical Corps, attached 29th Lancers, a graduate of Cambridge University's Officers' Training Corps, who was further 'mentioned' by General Allenby for his service

He went on to serve as the Zone Medical Officer with the Edinburgh Home Guard

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1st Type, Officer's (O.B.E.) Badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. W. F. T. Haultain.), with M.I.D. oak leaves; Defence Medal 1939-45, minor contact wear, overall very fine (5)

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919:

'… for valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Egypt.'

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919:

'… for valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Egypt.'

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1919.

William Francis Theodore Haultain was born at Edinburgh on 14 January 1893, the son of Francis W. N. Haultain, a well-known obstetrician and gynaecologist. The younger Haultain studied at Edinburgh Academy before joining Caius College, Cambridge and graduated with a B.A. in 1914.

He joined the Red Cross as a Dresser in August 1914 and worked with the 2nd Scottish General Hospital until April 1915 when he returned to Edinburgh to study as a Surgeon. He graduated M.B., B. Chir. in 1916, qualifying as a Surgeon. Commissioned Lieutenant from the Cambridge University Officer Training Corps on 5 August 1916 he entered the war in France on 25 August 1916.

Haultain was attached to 29th Lancers as Medical Officer, at the time the unit was serving in the trenches as Infantry. They were transferred back into their more traditional role in Palestine in February 1918 where they were in action at the Battle of Magiddo. After the war he was posted to the 31st C.C.H. with the acting rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. His service papers note that he was granted specialist pay whilst a 'Surgical Specialist at 31 C.C.H.'

His obituary in the International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology states:

'He was awarded the M.C. later the Battle of Cambrai in 1918 and a Mention in Lord Allenby's despatches and the O.B.E. followed the excellent work he did in 1919 during the malaria-influenza epidemic in Palestine.'

Going on to work at Aberdeen University he was elected to a Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1922, joining 2nd Highland Field Ambulance as Major during the 1921 strike. Haultain was further noted as serving as Major with the City of Edinburgh Battalion, Home Guard as Zone Medical Officer.

In his professional career he was the author of Ante Natal Care and Handbook of Midwifery and Gynaecology and was a lecturer in obstetrics and gynaecology to the School of Medicine of the Edinburgh Royal Colleges. After this he became a founder member of the College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a Fellow of that College as well as the College of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1945. Haultain retired in 1958, his obituary in the International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology reads:

'In everything Haultain did there was an expression of his genuine love for and interest in his fellow men. His delight was to help, be the need great or small and the needy young or old, rich or poor. His thoughtfulness, his understanding and his unobtrusive personal contribution to the smoothing and brightening of many a path for student, colleague and friend were characteristic of his kindliness and generosity. Many will miss but remember with gratitude, this kind man.'

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480