Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Major J. O. Skevington, Royal Army Medical Corps

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (J. O. Skevington, Surgeon); 1914 Star (J. O. Skevington, B.R.C.S. & O. St. J.J.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. O. Skevington); Defence Medal; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, these unnamed, medals cleaned and mounted for display; together with a British Red Cross Society 10 Year Service Badge, enamelled, reverse inscribed, ‘4680 K. Skerington (sic)’, good very fine and better (8) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals relating to the Boer War formed by two brothers.

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K.C.V.O. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

Joseph Oliver Skevington was born in Rothley, Leicestershire on 2 February 1873, the son of J. H. Skevington, a farmer. He was educated at Oakham School and at St. Mary’s Hospital, London, qualifying as a M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. in 1898 and a F.R.C.S. in 1899. He then served in the Boer War as a civil surgeon to the South African Field Force - it is recorded that he took some of the first x-ray photographs ever to be taken in war. After the war he went into general practice in Windsor and was elected to the staff of the Windsor Royal Infirmary. With his surgical practice developing rapidly, he gave up his general practice and became a consulting surgeon at some nine hospitals including those at Maidenhead, Staines, Iver, Egham, Ascot and Bagshot Cottage Hospital. Following the outbreak of war, in August 1914 he went to Rouen as Senior Surgeon to No. 2 British Red Cross Hospital but was invalided home in 1915. He returned to his work in Windsor and became surgeon to the various war hospitals in the vicinity and to the Brigade of Guards, Pirbright Camp, and Victoria Barracks, Windsor. In 1918 he returned to active service as a Captain in the R.A.M.C. For his immense services he was created a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (London Gazette 3 June 1919). He was President of the Windsor and District Medical Society, 1929-30. He retired in 1936 after 33 years service as honorary surgeon to the King Edward VII Hospital, Windsor, during which time he was also in charge of the x-ray department - an appointment he continued to hold until 1942. During the Second World War he served as a Medical Officer in the 8th Berkshire (Windsor Borough) Home Guard and was Chairman of the Berkshire Local Medical War Committee. Sir Joseph Skevington, latterly of Belmont, York Road, Windsor, died on 29 February 1952.

With a presentation book, bound in (scuffed) blue leather with gilt shield on the front cover, containing four illuminated card leaves, one addressed ‘To Sir Joseph Oliver Skevington, Senior Surgeon, King Edward VII Hospital Windsor. Sir, we your colleagues connected with this Hospital wish to show to you our appreciation, esteem and affection on your Retirement after 33 years loyal and hard working service as Honorary Surgeon’; the second then reads, ‘We have decided that the Main Operating Theatre shall in future be called “The Sir Joseph Skevington Theatre” A Plaque recording this to be placed outside the Main Theatre. Also we have subscribed to present a new operating table to your theatre also bearing your name.’ The third and fourth leaves contain the named of members of the hospital committee and medical and administrative staff. With a folder containing a quantity of copied research.