Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War C.M.G. group of three awarded to Major Arthur Ricketts, Royal Army Medical Corps, late Civil Surgeon, Imperial Yeomanry and Captain, Irish Horse

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; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Wittebergen, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (Civ. Surgn. A. Ricketts); Spain, Order of Isabella the Catholic, Knight’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, good very fine and better (3) £550-650

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Awards to the Medical Services from the Collection of the late Tony Sabell.

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Arthur Ricketts was born in Hayward’s Heath on 7 August 1874, the son of William Tyler Ricketts, Solicitor, of Burchetts, Chailey, Sussex. He was educated at Dulwich College and University College Hospital, London where he gained the M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., 1899. Prior to his service overseas he was employed as House Physician at University College Hospital. During the Boer War he was attached as a Civil Surgeon to the 12th Brigade Field Hospital. Ricketts served as a Civilian Surgeon with the South African Field Force, 1899-1901 and as a Captain of the Irish Horse (29th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry) during 1902. For his many services during the war he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901) and was awarded the C.M.G. in 1900 - when only 26 years of age. After the war he was placed in charge of the Surgical Division of the City of London Military Hospital at Clapton and in 1904, having achieved the degree of M.D., he set up a medical practice in Marylebone, London. During the Great War he served as a Major in the R.A.M.C. and afterwards returned to his practice in Marylebone, becoming an active member of the St. Marylebone Division of the B.M.A. Dr. Arthur Ricketts died on 14 May 1968.

With a folder containing: C.M.G. bestowal document, with envelope addressed to ‘Arthur Ricketts, Esq., M.B., C.M.G., “Freshfield”, Woodside Park, North Finchley, N.’; telegrams re. the presentation of the C.M.G.; documents re. the C.M.G. investiture; Statutes of the Order of St. Michael and St. George; a letter from William Frederick Thorley - a former Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, whose leg Rickett’s had amputated, thanking him for his great kindness whilst in hospital in Senekal, this with envelope; together with a number of original photographs and copied research.