Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, G.C.B. (Military), a fine embroidered Mantle star by Godfrey, 230mm, the reverse with maker’s label Godfrey, Embroiderer, No. 3, Tavistock Row, Covent Garden, circa 1840, attributed to Lieutenant-General Sir Benjamin D’Urban, Commander-in-Chief of the Cape of Good Hope, together with an old display name card, very fine £500-600

Sir Benjamin D’Urban served with the Portuguese forces throughout the Peninsula war and received the Gold Cross with five clasps for the battles of Busaco, Albuhera, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, and Toulouse. He was created one of the first K.C.B.’s on 2 January 1815 and a Commander of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword. In 1833 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Cape of Good Hope where he oversaw the final occupation of Natal, thereby creating the new colony of that name. His connection with these operations is perpetuated in the name of Durban given officially to Port Natal. He was created a G.C.B. on 30 June 1840, was Colonel of the 51st Light Infantry since 1829, and died at Montreal on 25 May 1849.