Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An R.V.M. group of seven awarded to Mr. J. Copple, Palace Steward at Buckingham Palace and later Steward to H.M. Queen Mary

Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., silver, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 1897, bronze; Coronation 1902, bronze; Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Royal Household Faithful Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue, suspension dated ‘1897-1917’, with 1st issue ‘Thirty Years’ and 2nd issue ‘Forty Years’ Additional Award Bars (James Copple) minor edge bruise to last, good very fine and better (7) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Members of the Nobility and The Royal Household.

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James Copple was born on 9 November 1875, and entered Royal Service as a Footman on 1 November 1897. Appointed a Page in H.M. King George V’s Household on 31 December 1910, he was promoted Page of the Presence, 2nd Class, the following day, and was awarded the Royal Household Faithful Service Medal on 1 November 1917. Advanced to Page of the Backstairs on 1 August 1920, he was awarded the Thirty Years Bar to his Faithful Service Medal on 1 November 1927, and was further honoured with the award of the Royal Victorian Medal on 4 June 1934. Appointed a Palace Steward at Buckingham Palace on 1 August 1935, he transferred to H.M. Queen Mary’s Household as Steward on 21 July 1936, following the death of H.M. King George V, and received the Forty Years Bar to his Faithful Service Medal on 1 November 1937. He finally retired in 1945, after 47 years’ service, and died on 1 June 1956.