Orders, Decorations and Medals

An important C.M.G. and Boer War group of ten awarded to Captain the Hon. Sir S. J. Fortescue, G.C.V.O., C.M.G., Royal Navy, Naval A.D.C. to Lord Roberts during the Boer War, Equerry to King George V and King George VI, and Sergeant-at-Arms in the House of Lords

The Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., breast badge converted for neck wear, silver-gilt and enamels, in its Garrard & Co case of issue; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 2 clasps, Alexandria 11th July, Suakin 1885 (Lieut. Hon., R.N. H.M.S. “Superb”); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (Com. Hon., R.N. H.M.S. Monarch); British War Medal (Capt. The Hon. Sir S. J. Fortescue, R.N.); Jubilee 1897, silver; Coronation 1902, silver; Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Khedive’s Star 1882, very fine or better (10) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals Formed by The Late John Cooper.

View
Collection

Seymour John Fortescue was born on 10 February 1856, second son of 3rd Earl Fortescue. He entered the Navy in 1869, and was Lieutenant of Superb at the bombardment of Alexandria, 11th July 1882, and during the Egyptian war. Lieutenant of Sphinx during the naval and military operations in the Eastern Soudan, at Suakin 1884-5. Member of the Naval Intelligence Department, April 1891 to April 1893. Appointed Equerry-in-Waiting to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, 4 April 1893. Awarded C.V.O., 22 June 1897, on the commemoration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Commander of H.M.S. Monarch in the South African war and Naval A.D.C. to to Field Marshal Lord Roberts, V.C., Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in South Africa (mentioned in despatches and awarded C.M.G. for services during the war, 19 April 1901). Equerry-in-Waiting on H.M. King Edward VII on the occasion of his Coronation, 9 August 1902. Created K.C.V.O., 14 June 1910. Equerry to H.M. King George V, 1910 to 1936, and to H.M. King George VI, 1936 to 1942. Sergeant-at-Arms in the House of Lords, 1910 to 1936. Employed during the Great War as Naval Censor in the Official Press Bureau from 1914. Created G.C.V.O., 1 January 1931. Sir Seymour Fortescue died on 20 March 1942.