TOPIC:

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

[ KCMG ]
IGS 1895 (3) Relief of Chitral 1895, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (Lieutt. C. W. J. Orr. No. 3 Mtn. By. R.A.), engraved in a running script;
QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State (Capt. C. W. J. Orr, R.A.), engraved in sloping capitals;

KCMG London Gazette: 2 January 1928 – Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Bahama Islands

CMG London Gazette: 1 January 1921 – Colonial Secretary, Gibraltar

Sir Charles William James Orr K.C.M.G. (1870 – 1945) was born on 20 September 1870 at Wimborne, Dorset, the son of Major Andrew Orr and Lucy Erskine Orr (née Acworth), of County Londonderry. Educated at Bath College and at the Royal Military College, Woolwich, he received his first commission with the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Second Lieutenant on 15 February 1889, being promoted to Lieutenant on 15 February 1892.

He saw service with No. 3 Mountain Battery, R.A. in India with the Chitral Relief Force under Sir Robert Low in 1895, and later took part in the storming of the Malakand Pass and in the engagement near Khar in 1895. He also served in the campaign on the North West Frontier of India in 1897-98 with the Tirah Expeditionary Force, being promoted to Captain on 7 September 1899.

Very soon afterwards he fought during the Boer War with the Imperial Yeomanry, taking part in the operations in Cape Colony, April to May 1900, and then in the Orange River Colony from May to July 1900.

Curiously, his name is also present on the China 1900 Medal Roll with possible entitlement to a no clasp medal, and while this service is not widely mentioned, the roll does seem to confirm that a silver medal was issued.

After the Boer War Captain Orr was seconded to serve with the Political Department of the Colonial Office in Northern Nigeria in 1903 as British Resident, a position in which he would remain for seven years, and which afterwards led directly to the publication of his book ‘The Making of Northern Nigeria’ in 1911.

His next position was that of Chief Secretary to the Government of Cyprus from 1911 to 1917, after which he again wrote an account of his views under the title: ‘Cyprus Under British Rule’ which was published in 1918. After a short period serving as Colonial Secretary at Gibraltar (for which he was appointed Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1921) he returned to Cyprus for a further seven years between 1919 and 1926 as Colonial Secretary. At the culmination of his career as an officer and colonial administrator, he was appointed Governor of the Bahamas between 1927 to 1932, and for this service he was made Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1928.

Hi,
That's an interesting pair of medals indeed and great story.
Given his extensive Civil Service, would Orr have been issued with coronation or Jubilee medals as part of his position ?
I have been interested in the issuance of Royal 'commemorative' medals as the criteria seems to be, in some instances, fairly broad ??
Apologies if this appears off topic.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (3) Relief of Kimberly, Paardeberg, Driefontein (Lieut. A. Lascelles. T. Bty: R.H.A.), suspension loose, minor contact wear, very fine

Alfred Lascelles was born on 1 September 1873, the fourth son of Ellen and Colonel Walter Lascelles of Norley Bank, Chester. Educated at Marlborough (Mitre House), from September 1887 to December 1890. Entering the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich on 20 March 1891 with the rank of Gentleman Cadet Lascelles was commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 1 April 1896. Posted to the 77th Field Battery at Coventry the next year in July 1897 he remained here until August 1898 when he joined 'T' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery at Aldershot.

Embarking for South Africa in December 1899 'T' Battery was posted to General French's army in its push to relieve Kimberly. This they did on 15 February 1900 and later in the month brought General Conje's army to bay at Paardeberg. With the Boers surrounded in a defensive laager the artillery played a major role in forcing their surrender, hammering at them with a heavy artillery bombardment. After Conje's surrender 'T' Battery found itself in action again at Dreifontien and with the Boers in retreat they were soon in the Free State Capital of Bleomfontein.

He fell ill at Bleomfontein with enteric fever and died on 16 May 1900.

He is commemorated upon the Royal Artillery Memorial, London and the South African War Memorial in the Marlborough College Chapel.

Picture courtesy of Spink

Egypt, undated reverse (2) Suakin 1885, Tofrek (15332, Driv: W. Rooney, R.A.);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (15332 Dr. W. Rooney, 4: B, R.F.A.);
Khedive's Star 1884-6, unnamed as issued.

William Rooney. Born 1860 in Armagh, Ireland

QSA verified on WO100/100p76.

To England 23 May 1901.

Egypt verified on WO100/63p122

Lt Lascelles's medal saw some late bidding and sold for a hammer price of £580. Totals (inc VAT on the commission for the UK only): £719. R13,900. Au$1,210. Can$1,070. US$840

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

MVO, 5th Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, the reverse unnumbered [see footnote],
QSA (1) Cape Colony (49234 Sgt. H. G. Barrett. U Bty., R.H.A.);
Coronation 1911, silver, unnamed as issued;
Army LS&GC EdVII (49234 Sjt: H. G. Barrett. R.H.A.);
Royal Victorian Medal, GV, unnamed as issued

Provenance: John Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, June 2009 (when the M.V.O. was erroneously described as being ‘officially numbered 589’; and the Q.S.A. additionally had the clasp Orange Free State).

MVO 5th Class London Gazette 2 January 1933

Henry Gulliver Barrett was born in Woolwich on 2 May 1871; his father was Richard Barrett, a Sergeant in the Riding Establishment, Royal Artillery. Following his father’s footsteps, Barrett joined the Royal Horse Artillery and as a Sergeant in ‘U’ Battery RHA served in South Africa during the Boer War from 21 December 1899 to 5 March 1900. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with Gratuity per Army Order 172 of October 1903.

After leaving the Army he joined Royal Service, and as Clerk of the Stables at Marlborough House he was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in Silver on 31 December 1925, on the occasion of the death of Queen Alexandra, on 20 November 1925. He was subsequently in the Household of HRH the Prince of Wales and for many years organised the reunion dinners of ‘Q’ Battery, RHA. As ‘Storekeeper, Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace’, he was appointed a Member Fifth Class of the Royal Victorian Order on 29 July 1932, and was presented with the insignia in hospital by Sir Arthur Erskine shortly before he died in Croydon General Hospital on 13 November 1932.

Note: Research included with the lot, compiled by John Tamplin, indicates that the recipient was allocated the MVO badge no. 589; however, owing to the fact that the insignia of the Order was presented to him in hospital in a presumably hurried ceremony, and before the notification of the award had even appeared in the London Gazette, it is possible that he was invested with an unnumbered badge.