A Great War O.B.E. group of three awarded to Commander Sir Francis P. Armstrong, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1918, in damaged Garrard & Co. Ltd case of issue; British War Medal 1914-20 (Commr. F. P. Armstrong. R.N.V.R.); Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, very fine (3) £160-£200

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919: Commander Francis Philip Armstrong, R.N.V.R., Auxiliary Patrol (award transferred to the Military Division 15 April 1919).

Francis Philip Armstrong was born in October 1871. He was the second son of Captain Sir George C. H. Armstrong, Bt. of London. Armstrong was educated at Charterhouse and Magdalen, Oxford, and was a Barrister (Inner Temple). He was employed by the Admiralty during the Great War, including being in charge of the Commission for selection of officers and mechanics for service in the Auxiliary Patrol in Canada and New Zealand. Armstrong was appointed commander of the Yacht Patrol, Portsmouth in December 1918, and in charge of the Coastal Motor Boat Base at Haslar, January 1919 - August 1919 (invested with the O.B.E. by King George V at Buckingham Palace, 24 September 1918. ). He took over the post of Secretary of the Royal Automobile Club in 1923 (Coronation Medal 1937), and upon retirement was appointed Vice President of the RAC Club. In later life he resided at Beaulieu, and died there in January 1944. Sir Francis in buried in Beaulieu Abbey, and he has a memorial window dedicated to him in Beaulieu Church (where his son, who was killed in the Great War, is also commemorated). His nephew was also killed in the Great War, and the barony became extinct upon the death of Sir Francis.

Sold with extensive copied research, including a photographic image of recipient.