Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The rare and important C.H., Knight Bachelor’s Badge, C.B.E., K. St. J. group of ten awarded to Sir Arthur Bryant, the famous historian

The Order of the Companions of Honour (C.H.), E.II.R., neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in its John Pinches, London case of issue; Knight Bachelor’s Badge, 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, hallmarks for London 1954, in its Royal Mint case of issue; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem (K. St. J.), Knight of Justice’s set of insignia, by Toye, Kenning & Spencer, London, neck badge and breast star, silvered-metal and enamel, in its case of issue, together with an Officer’s breast badge; British War and Victory Medals (2/Lieut., R.A.F.); Coronation 1953; Jubilee 1977, the first with slightly chipped obverse enamel, the second more so, otherwise generally good very fine (10) £4000-5000

C.H. London Gazette 10 June 1967.

Knight Bachelor London Gazette 10 June 1954.

C.B.E. London Gazette 9 June 1949.

Arthur Wynne Morgan Bryant was born on the Sandringham Estate, in February 1899, the eldest son of Sir Francis Bryant, C.B., C.V.O., C.B.E., I.S.O., then Private Secretary to the future king, Edward VII. Educated at Harrow, where his history master described him as ‘The grubbiest little boy I have ever seen’, young Arthur was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps and served briefly in France as a pilot in 1918.

He then attended Queen’s College, Oxford and although called to the Bar by the Inner Temple opted instead to accept the post of Principal of the Cambridge School of Arts, Crafts and Technology. Then in 1929, having lectured at Oxford in the interim, he was appointed educational adviser to the Bonar Law College at Ashridge, the same year in which he published his first book. In 1931, his immensely popular King Charles II was published, thereby establishing his reputation as a brilliant writer and meticulous researcher, although he fell foul of assorted academics who frowned upon such works of mass appeal. The latter, however, were soon silenced by the publication of his trilogy on the life and times of Samuel Pepys, still regarded as one of the finest historical biographies ever written.

Bryant was also a regular contributor to the Illustrated London News and in 1936 took over the “Our Note Book” column from G. K. Chesterton - a demanding post which he occupied for nearly 50 years.

During the Second World War he commenced work on his highly acclaimed series on the Napoleonic War and the Regency (The Years of Endurance, The Years of Victory and The Age of Elegance), but also witnessed a period of ‘temporary disgrace’ for his comparisons of Napoleon with Hitler.

Post-war, Bryant turned his attention to general history with the publication of The Story of England: Makers of the Realm, followed by a companion volume, The Age of Chivalry, ten years later. In the intervening period he made a substantial contribution to contemporary history in two books entitled Turn of the Tide and Triumphs in the West, both based on the wartime diaries of Lord Alanbrooke. These were followed by biographies of Nelson and Wellington, and a history of the Rifle Brigade, Jackets of Green.

Bryant fervently believed in the independent spirit of his countrymen and was thus a vociferous opponent of Britain’s entry into the European Economic Community, and from 1962 until the referendum in 1975, his pamphlet, A Choice for Destiny, proved a popular and persuasive argument against British membership. While he tried to preserve the feeling that English virtues were something special and distinct from Continental Europe, he, paradoxically, found himself aligned with the left wing.

Above all else, Bryant was primarily responsible for the widespread dissemination of British history to a larger audience than ever before. He was Chairman of the Society of Authors 1949-53, and held Honorary Degrees from the universities of Edinburgh and St. Andrews. Sir Arthur died at Salisbury in January 1985, having returned to the headlines a few weeks earlier for ‘blasting the Government for its plans to impose V.A.T. on books.’

Sold with 18 titles published by Bryant and a copy of Pamela Street’s biography.