The important ‘Visit to Ireland’ M.V.O. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Rt. Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, P.C., G.C.B., G.C.M.G., G.B.E., M.V.O., The Rifle Brigade, the first Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand and founder of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade

The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., 4th class, silver-gilt, gold and enamels, the reverse not numbered as often found on early awards; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902 (Capt. Hon. A. W. de B. S. Foljambe, M.V.O., Rifle Bde.) the clasps all contemporary tailor’s copies; Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935, together with group of eight related miniatures, including Order of the Bath (Civil), silver-gilt; Order of St Michael & St George, gold and enamels; Order of the British Empire, silver-gilt and enamels; and Order of St John, gold and enamels, nearly extremely fine (12) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to The Rifle Brigade and Affiliated Regiments from the collection formed by Michael Haines.

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M.V.O. 4th Class awarded on 26 April 1900: ‘The Hon. Arthur William de Brito Savile Foljambe, A.D.C. to the Lord Lieutenant, on the occasion of Her Majesty’s visit to Ireland.’

Arthur William de Brito Savile Foljambe was born on 27 May 1870, eldest son of the 1st Earl of Liverpool. He was educated at Eton and R.M.C. Sandhurst, being gazetted Second Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade on 2 May 1891. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1893 and Captain in 1897 when his Battalion, 4th Rifle Brigade, moved to Dublin. There he served from 1898 to 1900 as A.D.C. to Earl Cadogan, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, which post led him ultimately to a career of civil service. In 1900 he was appointed a Member (4th Class) of the Royal Victorian Order, one of only 38 such appointments made in the reign of Queen Victoria.

From 1900-1901, he was Staff Captain of the Dublin District but when his regiment left for South Africa and the Boer War, he accompanied it and served there for two years. He returned home with the Rifle Brigade but was put on half-pay when he was appointed State Steward to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1906-08. He was promoted Major in 1907, in which year his father died and he assumed the title of 2nd Earl of Liverpool. In 1909, he became Comptroller of His Majesty's Household, which post he held until 1912. During this period he also became Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the 8th Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), which post he held also until 1912.

In 1912 he was sent to New Zealand as Governor and Commander-in-Chief, and on arrival made a tour of the country, making a special point of visiting the smaller townships. He dealt effectively with a serious strike among the waterside workers in 1913, and in 1914 made his first tour of the Pacific or Cook Islands. In the course of the war the raising and organizing of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces was largely due to his forethought and knowledge, besides which two Hospital Ships were equipped, and he was responsible for raising the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, which was affiliated to the Regiment, and was known as the E.L.O. (Earl of Liverpool’s Own), or “England’s Last ‘Ope.” He was refused permission to accompany the regiment into combat but was gratified that it greatly distinguished itself during the whole war and in every way lived up to the traditions of the Rifle Brigade.

He held this post until 1917, having been made G.C.M.G. in 1914. He was not only Hon. Colonel of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade but also of the 11th Regiment (Taranaki) New Zealand Rifles. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1917 and also became that year the first Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the Dominion of New Zealand. He held this post until 1920 when he retired and was made G.C.B., having been made G.B.E. two years earlier. He was also a Knight of Justice of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. He died on 15 May 1941 and was succeeded by his brother, Hon. G. W. F. S. Foljambe.