Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine group of decorations awarded to William Hunter Steele, who was employed as a Traffic Manager on the Chinese Government Railways

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck cravat, in Garrard, London case of issue; China, Empire, Order of the Double Dragon, 2nd type, 2nd Class, 3rd Grade neck badge, 77mm. dia., silver and enamel, with blue centre stone and coral upper stone, with neck cravat with fitments, in lacquer case of issue; China, Republic, Order of the Golden Grain (2) 4th Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette on ribbon, with lapel rosette, in fitted case of issue; another, 4th Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, rosette on ribbon, in fitted case of issue, the two with minor differences in reverse inscription; Order of the Stripped Tiger, 6th Class breast badge, 57mm., silver-gilt and enamel, with Chinese stamp mark on reverse, with lapel rosette, in fitted lacquer case of issue; Communications Merit Medal, 50mm. dia., silver and enamel, reverse centre missing, in fitted wooden case of issue; Communications Merit Medal, a later type, 41mm. dia., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse centre loose, in fitted lacquer case of issue; Unknown Chinese Award, oval, 35 x 26mm., silver and enamel, with chain fitment, in fitted case; China, War Lord, Wu Pei Fu Qualification Award, silver-gilt and enamel, obverse centre incorrectly fitted, in fitted case of issue; Japan, Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, in fitted lacquer case of issue complete with cord and tassels, some of the cases damaged and showing signs of age, insignia very fine and better except where stated (10) £4000-5000

With bestowal document for the C.B.E., dated 3 June 1918; Permission to Wear document for the Chinese Order of the Double Dragon, 2nd Class, 3rd Grade, dated 3 September 1912, awarded to Steele as Deputy Traffic Manager, Chinese Government Railways, Peking-Mukden Line; this with associated letter; Permission to Wear document for the Chinese Order of the Excellent Crop, 7th Class, dated 14 May 1914, awarded to Steele as Deputy Traffic Manager of the Peking-Mukden Railway; Permission to Wear document for the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class, dated 18 April 1917, awarded to Steele as Assistant Director of the Traffic Section of the Peking-Mukden Railway, Tientsin; this with associated letter from the British Embassy in Tokyo and a translation of the bestowal document (not with lot); a “Merit” Certificate, no. 231, bestowed upon the recommendation of Premier Wang Chung Hui, 1922, with associated translation slip.

Badge of the Order of the Double Dragon is apparently 3rd Class ,Second Grade whilst the ‘permission’ document states ‘2nd Class, 3rd Grade’