Orders, Decorations and Medals

An interesting K.C.V.O. group awarded to Sir William Bennett, H.M. Inspector of Anatomy for London and Surgeon-in-Chief of the St John Ambulance Brigade, Knighted in 1901 for his services to the sick and wounded returning from the South African War

The Royal Victorian Order, K.C.V.O., neck badge numbered ‘K3’, and breast star numbered ‘3’, the set in its Collingwood & Co case of issue, the bottom stamped ‘K2’; Coronation 1911; St John Service Medal, silver (8066 Surg. in Chief Sir William Bennett, Hos. Staff S.J.A.B. 1930) in case of issue; British Red Cross Society medal for War Service 1914-1918, together with related miniatures of the Order of St John and Greek Order of the Redeemer, reverse centre lacking on the last, otherwise extremely fine (7) £1000-1200

William Henry Bennett was a student of St George’s Hospital, where he qualified M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. in 1873, and was elected F.R.C.S.Eng. in 1877. Among his numerous appointments were those of H.M. Inspector of Anatomy for London, member of the Consulting Staff of Osborne, and consulting surgeon to a number of hospitals, including St George’s, St John and St Elizabeth, and the Seaman’s, Greenwich. He was a member of the Court of Examiners of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and was Chairman of the Convalescent Homes Committee of the King Edward VII Hospital Fund. At varying periods he was Examiner in Surgery at Cambridge University, Lecturer on Anatomy and on Surgery at St George’s Hospital, Surgeon-in-Chief to the St John Ambulance Brigade, Chairman of the Invalid Children’s Aid Association and of the Star and Garter Home, Richmond and Sandgate, and of the Lord Wandsworth Agricultural College, and his presidences included those of the Institute of Hygiene and the Illuminating Engineering Society. Sir William Bennett was made K.C.V.O. in 1901 for his services to the sick and wounded returning from the South African War, for which he was publicly thanked by Lord Roberts. Throughout the Great War he gave up all his private affairs for work with the British Red Cross Society and Order of St John. He was appointed a Knight of Grace of St John and a Commander of the Royal Order of the Redeemer of Greece. Sir William Bennett, who was the author of numerous medical works, died at his residence in London on Christmas Eve, 1931, aged 79.