A Great War C.M.G. group of five awarded to Vice-Admiral Hon. Arthur Stopford, Royal Navy, who also served with the R.N.A.S. and held the rank of Colonel in the R.A.F.

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (Lieut. Hon., R.N. H.M.S. Doris); 1914-15 Star (Commr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt., R.N.) good very fine (5) £700-800

Arthur Stopford was born on 29 April 1879, second son of the 6th Earl of Courtown. He was educated at Stubbington House and H.M.S. Britannia, and joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet in January 1893. He served as Sub-Lieutenant of Monarch in South Africa during the War, 1899-1900, and was employed on despatch duty on specially chartered transports (Medal). Promoted to Lieutenant in 1901, and to Commander in 1912, he was appointed Flag-Commander to Vice-Admiral Commanding Second Battle Squadron in November of the same year.

He served with the Grand Fleet during the Great War, was promoted to Captain R.N. and appointed to the Royal Naval Air Service in 1917, and became a Colonel in the Royal Air Force in 1918. For his services during the war he was made a C.M.G. in 1918, and also received the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1916 and the 2nd Class Order of St Stanislas with swords in 1917. Stopford returned to the Royal Navy in 1919 and served as Naval Attaché to the U.S.A., 1925-28. He retired with the rank of Rear-Admiral in 1929, became Vice-Admiral (retired) in 1934, and died on 25 May 1955.