Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Order of St. John Serving Sister’s Badge attributed to Miss Milbrough Parker
The Order of St. John of Jerusalem Serving Sister’s shoulder badge, 1st type (1892-1939), silver and enamel, circular badge with white enamel cross with heraldic beasts in angles raised above the background, on lady’s bow riband, in case of issue, unnamed; together with Order of St. John of Jerusalem Honorary Serving Sister’s Certificate awarded to ‘Milbrough Marshall, Miss Parker’, 19 October 1917; General Nursing Certificate awarded to ‘Milbrough Marshall Parker’ dated 20 July 1923; a letter and a reference from Colonel C. J. Trimble, St. John Ambulance Brigade Hospital, B.E.F., regarding Miss Parker’s bravery and devotion to duty on the occasion of the Etaples Hospital bombing raids in May 1918; and a third letter from the St. John Ambulance Association Grand Priory to Colonel C. J. Trimble regarding said raids, good very fine

Order of St. John of Jerusalem Illuminated Scroll appointing Helene Violet Alice, The Countess of Stradbroke, O.B.E., a Lady of Grace, dated 25 May 1923, complete with appended seal, this cracked in places, in metal scroll holder, good condition

Order of St. John of Jerusalem Illuminated Scroll appointing Claire Marjoribanks, Lady Milne, M.B.E. a Lady of Grace, dated 21 November 1924, complete with appended seal, in metal scroll holder, good condition

Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Richard Wallace); together with Central Chancery letter and presentation ceremony invitation for Imperial Service Medal, good very fine (lot) £100-£140

Miss Milbrough Marshall Parker served during the Great War as Sister in Charge of Medical and Surgical Wards at the St. John Order Brigade Hospital, Etaples, France from September 1915 to June 1918 and was present on the occasion of two raids by enemy aircraft in May 1918 which caused serious loss of life and extensive damage to the buildings, necessitating evacuation.

Lady Helena Violet Alice Rous, Countess of Stradbroke, D.B.E. was born before 1882, the daughter of Lieutenant-General James Keith Fraser C.M.G.. In 1898, she married Colonel George Rous, 3rd Earl of Stradbroke, K.C.M.G., C.B., C.V.O., C.B.E., V.D., T.D. who served as the 15th Governor of Victoria, Australia, 1920-1931, and Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk 1935-1947. Lady Rous was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1918 (London Gazette 7 June 1918: ‘Helena Violet Alice, Countess of Stradbroke. Acting President, East Suffolk Branch, British Red Cross Society, for services in connection with the War.’); a Lady of Grace in the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England in 1923 (London Gazette 5 June 1923); and a Dame Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1927 (London Gazette 3 June 1927: ‘In recognition of services rendered during her husband’s Governorship of the State of Victoria, 1921-26’). She was also a representative present in the procession at the Coronation Ceremonials of Edward VII in 1902, George V in 1911, and George VI in 1937 (London Gazettes 29 October 1902, 27 September 1911 and 9 November 1937 refer). She died in 1949.

Claire Marjoribanks, Baroness Milne M.B.E. was born on 10 July 1885, the daughter of Sir John Nisbet Maitland, 5th Baronet, and educated at Wycombe Abbey. In 1905 she married Lieutenant-Colonel George Milne D.S.O. who would later serve as Chief of the Imperial General Staff from 1926-1933 and become Field Marshall G. F. Milne, 1st Baron Milne, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., D.S.O. Prior to the Great War, Lady Milne was a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and worked as V.A.D. in Roehampton and Middlesex Hospital. She started the Royal Artillery Comforts Fund in 1914, which she ran until the end of 1918 and during this time was also treasurer of the Woolwich Branch of the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association. For her services during the Great War she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (London Gazette 26 March 1920: ‘Claire Marjoriebanks, Lady Milne. Secretarial work at General Headquarters in France. For services in connection with the War.’), and in 1925 she was appointed a Lady of Grace by the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England (London Gazette 2 January 1925). Styled as Baroness Milne from 1933, she was an Empire Representative in the Carriage Procession at the Coronation of George VI in 1937 (London Gazette 9 November 1937 refers). She died in 1970.

Richard Wallace was awarded his Imperial Service Medal in 1951 (London Gazette 27 November 1951).