Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

University of Cambridge Prize Medallion, 50mm, bronze, the obverse bearing the University’s Coat of Arms, the reverse inscribed ‘Inter-Collegiate Football Association Challenge Cup Won by Trinity Harrovians 1879’ within wreath, edge engraved ‘Hon. C. Hardinge’, in case of issue, extremely fine £60-80

Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst, K.G., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., I.S.O. was born on 20 June 1858, the second son of the 2nd Viscount Hardinge, and the grandson of Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge, a former Governor-General of India, and was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge. Entering the Diplomatic Service in 1880, he had a brilliant career, serving as Ambassador to Russia, 1904-06, and, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, was Viceroy of India from 1910-16, presiding over the visit of the King-Emperor for the Delhi Durbar in 1911, and was subsequently wounded by a bomb at his state entry into Delhi in 1912. In 1916 he returned to England as the Chairman of the Royal Commission on the rebellion in Ireland and as Permanent Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs until 1920, before serving as Ambassador to France for two years until he retired in 1922. He died in Penshurst, Kent, on 2 August 1944.

The Cambridge University Association Football Club is one of the oldest clubs to date in the world. In 1871 nine colleges took part, in addition three old boys sides: Old (Trinity) Harrovians, Trinity Etonians, and Trinity Rest.