An early pre-War M.V.O. 4th Class pair awarded to Admiral H. A. Warren, Royal Navy

The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 4th Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse officially numbered ‘112’; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (Lieut. H. A. Warren, R.N., H.M.S. Mariner) good very fine and better (2) £1,000-£1,400

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2005.

M.V.O. London Gazette 21 April 1903.

Herbert Augustus Warren was born on 24 July 1855 and entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet on 13 April 1869. He was advanced Sub-Lieutenant on 20 April 1875, and was promoted Lieutenant on 16 April 1878. In the latter rank he was landed from H.M.S. Mariner for service in the Naval Brigade during the Burma operations of 1885-87, and was one of approximately 80 of that ship’s crew to qualify for the appropriate Medal and clasp. Thereafter, Warren saw no further active service but enjoyed steady promotion, being advanced Commander on 30 June 1892, with his first command being H.M.S. Polyphemus, this being ‘a twin screw special torpedo vessel (protected ram)’, the only ship of this kind in the navy.

Advanced Captain on 1 January 1898, Warren was awarded his M.V.O. in 1903 on the occasion of King Edward VII’s visit to Malta, whilst Captain of H.M.S. Vindictive. He was later to command H.M.S. Empress of India and H.M.S. Jupiter before being appointed to command the South of Ireland Coastguard and promoted Rear-Admiral on 20 September 1907. He was placed on the Retired List in March 1911, and was promoted Vice-Admiral on 31 July 1912, and full Admiral on 9 June 1916. He died in 1926.

Sold with copied record of service and medal roll extracts.