Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The K.B.E., C.M.G. group of five miniature dress medals attributed to Sir Robert Smith, Governor of British North Borneo

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, K.B.E. (Civil) Knight Commander’s 2nd type badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; British North Borneo Company General Service Medal 1937, mounted as worn and housed in a Spink, London, case, good very fine, the last rare (5) £300-£400

Provenance: Christie’s, February 1982 (when sold alongside his full-sized medals).

K.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1947: Charles Robert Smith, Esq., C.M.G., lately Governor of British North Borneo.

C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1941: Charles Robert Smith, Esq., Principal Representative in North Borneo of the British North Borneo (Chartered) Company.

Sir (Charles) Robert Smith was born on 13 November 1887 and was educated at Christ's Hospital, Horsham. He joined the North Borneo Civil Service as a cadet in 1913, and was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of North Borneo in 1937. Following the fall of North Borneo to the Japanese on 18 January 1942, Smith was interned by the Japanese at Berhala Island near Sandakan in North Borneo, and then at Batu Lintang camp, Sarawak, Borneo, until May 1943, after which time he was transferred to another camp in Manchuria.

Following the cessation of hostilities, Smith resumed his Governorship on 11 September 1945, before retiring in October 1946. Created a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1947 New Year’s Honours’ List, he died on 4 November 1959.