Auction Catalogue

25 & 26 June 2008

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 1175

.

26 June 2008

Hammer Price:
£780

An unusual M.B.E. group of five awarded to Chief Engineer B. K. Finnimore, M.I.C.E., Public Works Department, Bengal, later County Quartermaster, Surrey Special Constabulary

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 1st type breast badge; Tibet 1903-04, no clasp (B. K. Finnimore Esq. Supdg. Engr. P.W.D.); Delhi Durbar 1911; Coronation 1937, privately named (B. K. Finnemore, Co. Qtrmr. S.S.C.); Special Constabulary Medal, G.V.R., coinage head (Co. Qmr. Benjamin K. Finnimore) together with named card box of issue for the last, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (5) £500-600

Benjamin Kington Finnimore trained at the Royal Indian Engineering College and was appointed to the Public Works Department as assistant engineer on 23 September 1881, and posted to Bengal. Appointed executive engineer in August 1893, he was under-secretary to the government of Bengal, railway and civil works, April to August 1902, and November 1902 to January 1904, during which time he served with the Tibet Field Force. He was appointed superintending engineer in April 1905, and chief engineer and secretary to the government of Bengal, in the Public Works Department, January 1911.He was appointed Chairman of the Calcutta Improvement Trust in July 1913, retired in September 1914, and was awarded the M.B.E. in January 1918. Benjamin Finnimore was later County Quartermaster of the Surrey Special Constabulary.