An ‘Edwardian’ M.V.O. group of three awarded to Engineer Captain A. J. Nye, Royal Navy, who served in the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert from 1903-09, and who recorded his service in the Royal Yacht in a remarkable photograph album

The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 4th Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse officially numbered ‘285’, in Collingwood, London, case of issue, the case similarly officially numbered ‘4 285’; Russia, Empire, Order of St. Stanislas, Civil Division, Second Class neck badge, 48mm, gold (56 zolotniki) and enamel, maker’s mark and gold marks to reverse and suspension ring, with short section of neck riband, in embossed case of issue; Norway, Kingdom, Coronation Medal 1906, silver, minor white enamel chipping and restoration work to MVO, otherwise good very fine; the foreign awards about extremely fine (3) £1,400-£1,800

M.V.O. London Gazette 30 December 1904: Engineer Commander Alfred John Nye, R.N., of His Majesty’s yacht “Victoria and Albert”.

Alfred John Nye was born on 3 September 1855 and was appointed Assistant Engineer in H.M.S. Asia on 1 July 1877. He was advanced Engineer on 1 March 1883, and joined the Royal Yacht Osborne on 12 January 1884. Returning to ships of the line on 12 January 1889, he was advanced Chief Engineer on 7 June 1890; Staff Engineer on 7 June 1894; and Fleet Engineer on 7 June 1898. He was promoted Engineer Commander on 1 April 1903, and served in the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert from 13 May 1903. Transferring to the retired list with the rank of Engineer Captain on 17 June 1908, he was permitted to remain in Victoria and Albert in this rank until the end of the year in order to complete the yachting season. He finally retired on 7 December 1908, and died on 11 August 1932.

For his services in the Royal Yacht, Nye was appointed a Member Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1905 New Year’s Honours’ list, and also received the Russian Order of St. Stanislas Second Class, and the Norwegian Coronation Medal.

Sold together with the following archive:

i) A remarkable Edwardian photograph album compiled by the recipient whilst serving aboard the Royal Yacht, quarter bound in leather board covers, the spine gilt blocked ‘Engineer Captain A. J. Nye, M.V.O., R.N.’ Photographs include: Group photographs of the Gun Room Officers, H.M.S. Aboukir, dated 1902; Officers Smoking Circle, H.M.S. Aboukir; Several photographs of the officers on deck, H.M. Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert; the Officers, H.M.S. Aboukir, 1902; Internal photographs of the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert including the King’s bedroom; photograph of the ‘King’s Coffee Maker’ in middle eastern garb; the wheel and compasses and silver bell of the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert; the pet Bear of H.M.S. Aboukir, together with several photographs of places visited by H.M.S. Aboukir circa 1902, including Gibraltar and Cyprus; holiday photographs of a similar era taken in Pembrokeshire, of Tenby, Carew Castle, Picton Castle, Freshwater, Broadhaven, St. Govan’s Chapel, Manorbier Castle, and others; photographs of Brecon and district; several photographs of the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert, including in Norway and passing through the Kiel Canal; the officers and crew, including the Emperor of Germany, H.M. King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra; several photographs of Captain Nye, in uniform on board the Royal Yacht; several panoramic photographs stated by marginal notes to have been taken by H.M. The Queen Alexandra and Princess Victoria, in Norway; several photographs of H.M. King Edward VII, and Queen Alexandra visiting Algiers; other photographs of personalities visiting the Royal Yacht, including Miss Charlotte Knollys, Lord Salisbury, Admiral Milne, General Brocklehurst, H.M. the King and Queen of Norway, Princess Victoria, Lord Farquhar. In all over 160 photographs all pasted into a luxury bound album, some yellowing to pages, annotated by hand throughout, with some later additions, photographs very good, the album with tight binding, and a remarkable photographic record.
ii) The recipient’s Bestowal Document for the Royal Victorian Order, together with Privy Purse Office enclosure
iii) Bestowal Document for the Russian Order of St. Stanislas, together with Admiralty enclosure, dated 20 March 1909, and Buckingham Palace Private Permission to Wear Document, dated November 1910
iv) Buckingham Palace Private Permission to Wear Document for the Norwegian Coronation Medal, dated January 1911
v) Various invitations and musical programmes to Banquets, both aboard the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert and on shore
vi) Various postcards and photographs; and copied research.