A Great War Period M.B.E., Kaisar-I-Hind pair awarded to Lady Margaret Bhore, the wife of Sir Joseph Bhore, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., C.B.E., Indian Civil Service

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 1st type breast badge, hallmarks for London, 1919, on Lady’s riband bow, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; Kaisar-I-Hind, G.V.R., 1st class, 2nd type, gold, complete with upper brooch-bar for wearing, in its fitted case of issue, together with Delhi Durbar 1911, and an attractive gold and enamel brooch of the central design of the Arms of the State of Bhopal, by Cooke & Kelvey of Calcutta, in its red leather presentation case, good very fine and better (4) £600-800

M.B.E. London Gazette 8 January 1919.

Kaisar-I-Hind London Gazette 1 January 1934.

Also sold with an attractive presentation trowel, silver-plated, with ivory handle, in its fitted case, the front of the blade engraved, ‘Presented to Sir Joseph Bhore, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., C.B.E., I.C.S., By the Delhi Y.M.C.A. Committee on the Occasion of the Laying of the Foundation Stone of the New Delhi Y.M.C.A. Hostel, March 21st, 1935, As a Small Token of Appreciation’, the reverse of the blade with the engraved names of the Committee Members.

Margaret Wilkie Stott married Joseph Bhore in 1911. A doctor by profession, she was elevated to O.B.E. on 1 January 1944 (relevant London Gazettes refer), and died in the following year. Sir Joseph, a long served Indian Civil Servant, was onetime Dewan (Prime Minister) of the State of Cochin, and rose to be a Member of the Governor-General’s Executive Council in the 1930s - it was for services in Cochin that his wife received her Kaisar-I-Hind. Created a C.B.E. in 1920 and a C.I.E. in 1923, he was elevated to K.C.I.E. in 1930 and appointed K.C.S.I. in 1933. One of his final duties was to represent India at the Jubilee celebrations in London in 1935. He died in August 1960.