Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An R.V.M. group of eight awarded to Mr. A. W. Thomas, Page of the Backstairs

Royal Victorian Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver, unnamed as issued; Defence Medal; Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Royal Household Faithful Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue, suspension dated ‘1910-1930’, with 2nd issue ‘Thirty Years’ and ‘Forty Years’ Additional Award Bars (A. W. Thomas.); Denmark, Kingdom, Royal Household Medal, Christian X, silver, with crown; Norway, Kingdom, Royal Household Medal, Haakon VII, silver, with crown, mounted court-style as worn, generally good very fine, the later British awards better (8) £400-500

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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Arthur William Thomas was born on 1 April 1885, and entered H.M. King Edward VII’s Household as a Footman on 1 March 1910. After the King’s death in May 1910 he joined H.M. Queen Alexandra’s Household, and on her death in November 1925 he transferred to H.M. King George V’s Household, still as a Footman. He was awarded the Royal Household Faithful Service Medal on 6 May 1930. Promoted to Deputy Sergeant Footman on 1 April 1931, and Page of the Presence on 1 October 1932, he was advanced to Page of the Backstairs on 1 April 1934. Awarded the Thirty Years Bar to his Faithful Service Medal on 6 May 1940, he was further honoured with the award of the Royal Victorian Medal on 1 January 1943. He finally retired on 7 May 1950, having received his Forty Years Bar to his Faithful Service Medal the day before, and died on 22 November 1955.