Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

An Order of St. John group of five awarded to Sir Paul Patrick, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., latterly Assistant Under-Secretary of State for India, and onetime a Lieutenant, attached 4/11 Gurkhas

The Most Venerable Order of St. John, Commander’s neck badge, silvered-metal and enamel; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, good very fine or better (5) £400-500

Paul Joseph Patrick, who was born in October 1888, the son of a clergyman, was educated at Rugby and at Oxford University.

Gaining appointment to the India Office in 1913, he served as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers 1916-19, on the North West Frontier and in Palestine, at one stage on attachment to the 4/11 Gurkhas and latterly as an Assistant Secretary in the Army Department of the Government of India.

Returning to his pre-war engagement in India in the latter year, he became Private Secretary to Lord Sinha, Governor of Bihar and Orissa in 1921, before joining the Political Internal Department of the India Office, where he went on to enjoy a long and successful career, culminating in his appointments as Assistant Under-Secretary of State for India in 1941 and as C.R.O. in 1947.

Sir Paul was appointed a C.S.I. in 1934, a K.C.I.E. in 1946 and a Commander of the Order of St. John in 1963. He died in August 1975.

Sold with his original warrants for appointment to Officer of the Order of St. John, dated 18 February 1938, and to Commander, dated 27 February 1963, both with related correspondence; together with Jubilee Medal 1935 certificate; and his commission warrant for the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, this last dated 11 August 1916.