Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An inter-War M.B.E., Order of St. John group of five awarded to L. R. N. Percey, Esq., St. John Ambulance Brigade Commissioner for Hertfordshire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knight of Grace’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver and enamel, with heraldic beasts in angles; Star, silver and enamel, with heraldic beasts in angles, with full neck riband, in Toye, Kenning & Spencer, London, case of issue; Defence Medal; Coronation 1953; St John Service Medal, silvered base metal with three Additional Award Bars (Leonard R. N. Percey Welwyn Div. S.J.A.B.) mounted court-style as worn, good very fine (6) £300-£400

M.B.E. London Gazette 2 January 1939:
‘For political services in East Willesden.’

Order of St. John, Knight of Grace London Gazette 31 August 1965.

Leonard River Norman Percey ‘who died in 1973, at the age of 72, served as general secretary of the Licensed Victuallers’ Defence League for 30 years, and during the Second World War played a leading part in raising money for the Red Cross and the St. John Ambulance Brigade. He helped to found the Welwyn Company of Army Cadets and served himself in the Home Guard. In 1941 he was appointed treasurer of the Welwyn division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and in 1948 he became joint divisional vice-president. For over 16 years he was County Commissioner for Hertfordshire, and in 1965 the Queen gave her approval for Mr. Percey’s promotion to the rank of Knight of the Venerable Order of St. John, one of the Brigade’s highest awards. He will be remembered as a Churchillian figure who never really retired, and he continued as chairman of the wine committee of St. John House, London, until shortly before his death. Miss Barbara Cartland called him a “gentle and wonderful knight.”’ (recipient’s obituary taken from the Welwyn Times refers).

Sold with various photographic images of the recipient, including a number of him with H.M. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.