Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An O.B.E. group of five awarded to Alderman C. N. Ribbeck, late Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Mayor of the City of Chester, 1972-73
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, all unnamed, mounted as worn; together with another O.B.E. in case of issue; a mounted set of five miniature dress medals; City of Chester Past-Mayor’s Badge 1972-73, silver-gilt and enamel, reverse impressed, ‘Alderman C. N. Ribbeck’, in case of issue; Northwich, Mid-Cheshire Pitt Club Medal, 51mm., silvered bronze, reverse impressed, ‘212 Ald. C. N. Ribbeck 1970’ (ref. Edge S.27); Chester Caledonian Association Past President’s Badge, silver and enamel, unnamed, pin-backed; Jubilee Medal 1887, 50mm., bronze, edge impressed, ‘Duke of Hamilton’s School Brodick won by Charles Ribbeck’, in damaged Hamilton & Inches, Edinburgh case of issue; ‘Stadt Fallingbostel’, gilt plaque, 130 x 88mm., in box of issue; wrist watches (4) - one with reverse inscribed, ‘C. N. Ribbeck, D/JX 218042’, medals generally extremely fine (lot) £340-380

O.B.E. London Gazette 26 June 1979. ‘Charles Norman Ribbeck, Member, Cheshire County Council.’

Charles Norman Ribbeck was born in Glasgow on 17 March 1912 and received his early education at Brodick School on the Isle of Arran. He later attended the University of Glasgow where, in 1936, he gained a B.Sc. in Chemistry. Having previously been an Ordinary Seaman in the R.N.V.R., he was appointed a Temporary Sub-Lieutenant on 17 March 1942; he is believed to have attained the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. Post-war he was a Director of Associated Lead Manufacturers Ltd., Chester. President of the Chester Caledonian Association, 1958-59. Sheriff of Chester, 1971-72; Mayor of Chester, 1972-73; and Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire, 1979 (London Gazette 16 February 1979). In the June 1979 Birthday Honours List he was awarded the O.B.E. as a Member of Cheshire County Council. Charles Ribbeck died in the Chester/Ellesmere Port area in February 1997, aged 84 years.

Together with a coin-sized Fettes College Medal 1870-1970; white metal kilt pin; a quantity of British and foreign coins and cuff braid of a Lieutenant-Commander, R.N.V.R. With copied gazette extracts and other research.