The mounted group of eight miniature dress medals attributed to Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry C. Carden, Bt., 17th/21st Lancers

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, G.VI.R., no clasp; Coronation 1953; Sweden, Kingdom, Order of the Sword, Commander’s badge, silver-gilt and enamel, mounted as worn, generally very fine and better (8) £70-£90

O.B.E. London Gazette 21 June 1945:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe.’

The original Recommendation states: ‘As Second in Command, 2 Armoured Replacement Group forming on the War Establishment, and later as Officer Commanding, 2 Armoured Delivery Regiment, Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel Carden had a very great deal to do with the formation and reorganisation of Armoured Replacement Group onto a serviceable basis. His energy, enthusiasm, organising and administrative ability, and powers of leadership have contributed very largely to the supply of AFVs throughout the campaign.’

Sir Henry Christopher Carden, Bt., was born on 16 October 1908, the son of Major Sir Frederick Carden, 3rd Baronet, and was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College Sandhurst. Commissioned into the 17th/21st Lancers in 1928, he served with them in Egypt and India from 1930 to 1939, before attending the Staff College in 1941. He commanded 2 Armoured Delivery Regiment during the Second World War in France post-D-Day, and was advanced Lieutenant-Colonel. After further service as Commanding Officer of the 17th/21st Lancers in Greece and Palestine from 1947 to 1948 (General Service Medal with clasp Palestine 1945-48), he joined the War Office in 1948, and was appointed Military Attaché in Stockholm in 1951, for which services he was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Sword in 1954. He retired in 1956.

Sir Henry succeeded to the Baronetcy upon the death of his father on 22 September 1966, and in 1970 sold the family seat, Stargrove House near Newbury, to the singer and songwriter Mick Jagger, of the rock band the Rolling Stones (an apocryphal story has it that Jagger was high on LSD when he unwittingly bought the house). Sir Henry died on 4 February 1993, being succeeded to the Baronetcy by his only son.

For the recipient’s related full-sized awards, see Lot 169.