A Great War O.B.E. group of nine awarded to Major H. A. Daniell, London Regiment and Staff, who served as a Subaltern with the Hampshire Regiment in South Africa during the Boer War, as a Civil Administrator in Somaliland, and later during the Second World War as a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve- during the course of his varied career he was five times Mentioned in Despatches

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt hallmarks for London 1919; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2/ Lieut: H. A. Daniell. Hamp: Rgt:); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (H. A. Daniell.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major H. A. Daniell.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Belgium, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver and enamel; Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze, mounted court-style as worn, generally very fine (9) £800-£1,200

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919:
‘For valuable service rendered in connection with the War.’

Belgian Order of the Crown, Chevalier London Gazette 11 March 1919.

Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 11 March 1919.

Humphrey Averell Daniell was born on 31 January 1882, a scion of the Daniell family from Daresbury, and was educated at Eton. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Hampshire Regiment on 16 February 1901, he served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, before relinquishing his commission and taking up a post with the Civil Administration in Somaliland. Following the outbreak of the Great War he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the London Regiment on 23 May 1916, being promoted temporary Captain the same day, and served with the 18th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from June 1916, where he was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 15 May 1917 and 11 December 1917) before transferring to the Staff. For his services during the Great War he was promoted Major and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, as well as being awarded the Belgian Order of the Crown and Croix de Guerre.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War he was granted a commission as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 17 October 1939. He served with the R.A.F.V.R. at home throughout the Second World War, and for his services during the War was three times Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 1 January 1942, 1 January 143, and 14 June 1945), and was advanced Squadron Leader. He relinquished his commission, retaining the rank of Squadron Leader, on 10 February 1954.

Sold with copied Medal Index Card, London Gazette entries, and other research.