Orders, Decorations and Medals

Lady Mary Soames, nee Churchill, D.B.E., M.B.E., daughter of Sir Winston Churchill
Ribbons mounted for display, to represent those of the recipient: Order of the British Empire, 2nd type, civil, arranged, ‘bow and tails’; and the ribbons: Order of the British Empire, 2nd type, military; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45; Zimbabwe Independence; and separately: France, Order of the Liberation, these mounted on card, signed, ‘Mary Churchill’ below the six ribbons and ‘Mary Soames’ below the Order of Liberation ribbon, very good condition £100-140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Ribbons from the Collection of the late Judge Henry Pownall.

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Lady Mary Soames, nee Churchill, was awarded the military M.B.E. in 1945 and was later awarded the civil D.B.E.

With a typed letter to His Honour Judge Henry Pownall, Q.C., dated 24 June 1993, from Lady Mary Soames, concerning and listing her orders and medals: ‘..... I wore my medals yesterday at the unveiling of General de Gaulle’s statue by the Queen Mother, and so I had a particularly good opportunity to look at them carefully. .... My father was given the Croix de la Liberation by General de Gaulle in the War, and was formerly invested by the General (when President of France) in 1958. It is customary for next of kin holders of French decorations to wear the deceased holders decoration(s) on the right breast at commemorations. In Great Britain only the Queen Mother and I are entitled to wear the Croix in this way’. ... (signed) ‘Mary Soames’.

With a hand-written letter to His Honour Judge Henry Pownall, Q.C., dated 1 August 1993, from Lady Mary Soames:

‘Dear Sir Henry, Thank you so much for your letter; I have duly signed the medal mounted card. I am v. proud to feel I shall have a place in your interesting & unusual collection. Also I am grateful to you for letting me know some background to my modest collection of “gongs”! ... (signed) ‘Mary Soames’.

With a photograph of Lady Soames wearing most of the above awards, in company with Her late Majesty, The Queen Mother; also with a similar picture taken from a magazine and several magazine and newspaper clippings.