Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

King’s Messenger Badge, G.VI.R. issue, silver-gilt and enamel, reverse inscribed, ‘No. 22’, with silver pendant greyhound, complete with neck ribbon, in (damaged) Garrard, London case of issue, slight enamel damage, very fine £400-450

Sold with a note reading, ‘Queen’s (sic) Messenger Badge numbered 22 is the personal property of Major Malise Patrick David Cruickshank, (signed) Captain J. G. Canning, Superintendent of the Queen’s Messenger Service, 22 February 1977’. Also with a larger note on Queen’s Messenger notepaper, extracts reading, ‘Badge Number 22 of a total of 50 made for the Foreign Office by Garrard & Co. Ltd., the Crown Jewellers. ... This particular Badge was in general use until issued to Major Malise Patrick David Cruickshank, who was a Queen’s Messenger from 1961 to 1977. Major Cruikshank was permitted to purchase the Badge at the rate decided by the Foreign Office in January 1976 - (£36). George VI Messenger Badges were used by the Corps of Queen’s Messengers until 1976, when it was decided that Messengers would be responsible for purchasing their own Badge of Office. ... (Signed) Superintending Queen’s Messengers (1987-1996), dated,3 July 2003.

Major M. P. D. Cruikshank was born on 1 February 1914, was first commissioned on 30 August 1933, attained the rank of Major on 30 August 1948 and retired from the 10th Hussars on 11 May 1961.