Auction Catalogue

2 April 2003

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. Including a superb collection of medals to the King’s German Legion, Police Medals from the Collection of John Tamplin and a small collection of medals to the Irish Guards

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 962

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2 April 2003

Hammer Price:
£110

The mounted group of four miniature dress medals attributed to Lieutenant-Colonel, The Rt. Hon. Sir Matthew Nathan, P.C., G.C.M.G., D.L., Royal Engineers, Order of St. Michael & St. George, silver-gilt and enamel, ring suspension, some enamel damage; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Lushai 1889-92; Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935, mounted as worn, good very fine except where stated (4) £45-55

Matthew Nathan was born in 1862 and entered the Royal Engineers in 1880, attaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1907. During his military career he served in the Nile Expedition 1885 and the Lushai Expedition 1889. In the field of administration, he held many posts, including that of Secretary of the Colonial Defence Committee, 1895-1900, Governor of the Gold Coast 1900-03, Governor of Hong Kong, 1903-07, Governor of Natal, 1907-09, Secretary to the Post Office, 1909-11, Chairman of the Board of the Inland Revenue, 1911-14, Under-Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1914-16, Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions, 1916-19. He was appointed Privy Councillor of Ireland in 1914, awarded the C.M.G. in 1899, K.C.M.G. in 1902 and G.C.M.G. in 1908. A man of many interests, he was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society. He died in 1939.