Orders, Decorations and Medals

The C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E. group of twelve awarded to Captain Sir Lionel de Lautour Wells, Royal Navy, Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade

Knight Bachelor’s Badge, 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, hallmarks for London 1926; The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G. Companion’s neck badge conversion from a breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (Lieut., R.N., H.M.S. Iris); 1914-15 Star (Capt., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Commre 1 Cl., R.N.); Jubilee 1897, London County Council Metropolitan Fire Brigade (Lionel de L. Wells, M.F.B.); Coronation 1902, L.C.C.M.F.B., silver (Lionel de L. Wells); U.S.A., Navy Distinguished Service Medal, unnamed; Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed, medals mounted court style, good very fine (12) £3000-3500

Lionel de Lautour Wells was born in Calcutta in January 1859 and was educated at Cheltenham and in the Royal Navy. Entering the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet in 1871, he was appointed a Midshipman aboard Bellerophon in October 1873. Advanced to Sub-Lieutenant in January 1878, he served as such aboard the royal yacht Victoria & Albert during July-September 1881. Then promoted to Lieutenant, he served aboard the despatch vessel Iris, seeing service in the Egypt War of 1882. Appointed to the torpedo school ship Vernon in September 1883, he qualified as a Torpedo Lieutenant, and served in that capacity aboard the Raleigh and Agincourt, being appointed Staff Officer and 1st Lieutenant at Defiance, the torpedo school in Devonport in April 1890. He was advanced to Commander in June 1892 and retired with the rank of Captain on 7 November 1901. He was employed as Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, 1896-1903 and chief agent of the Conservative Party, 1903-06. In his ‘fire brigade’ capacity, he was the originator of the 1898 Scheme for the Protection of London against Fire, completed in 1908, and was the patentee of the horsed escape, telephone fire alarm, and other fire brigade improvements.

With the onset of was he was recalled to service with the rank of Captain. In November 1914 he was posted to Sunderland, Co. Durham, to arrange the anti-invasion defences of the seaport. He was then posted as Senior Naval Officer, Thurso, Scotland. During July 1915-late 1916, he served aboard the cruiser Europa in the Mediterranean, being employed on transport duties, especially in connection with the Gallipoli campaign. During the period February 1917-January 1919 he was the Senior British Naval Officer at New York and Principal Convoy Officer in the United States, being promoted to Commodore 1st Class in July 1917. For his wartime services he was awarded the C.M.G. in 1916, C.B. in 1918, C.B.E. in 1919, and awarded the U.S. Navy D.S.M. Wells was knighted in 1921. Living latterly at Houghton Lodge, Stockbridge, Hampshire, he died on 15 March 1929.

Sold with a typed letter of recommendation from The Duke of Edinburgh for the post of Chief Officer of the L.C.C.M.F.B., 24 September 1891; typed orders re. his posting to Sunderland, 15 November 1914, several paper clippings and copied research.