Auction Catalogue

23 June 2005

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

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Lot

№ 642

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23 June 2005

Hammer Price:
£800

The mounted group of sixteen miniature dress medals attributed to Major-General Sir Allan Adair, G.C.V.O., C.B., D.S.O., M.C., and Bar, Grenadier Guards, Royal Victorian Order, silver-gilt and enamel; Order of the Bath, Military Division, silver-gilt and enamel, ring suspension; Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Military Cross, G.V.R. and Bar; British War and Victory Medals; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Belgium, Order of Leopold, 4th Class, with swords, silver-gilt and enamel, rosette and gilt ‘L’ palm on ribbon; France, Legion of Honour, 4th Class, silver-gilt and enamel, rosette on ribbon; Belgium, Croix de Guerre, ‘L’ cypher, with bronze palm on ribbon; France, Croix de Guerre 1939-1940, with bronze palm on ribbon, mounted Court style as worn, generally good very fine (16) £180-220

Allan Henry Shafto Adair was born on 3 November 1897, the only son of Sir R. Shafto Adair, 5th Baronet. Educated at Harrow, he served in the Grenadier Guards from 1916 to 1941. In the Great War he was awarded the M.C. in 1918 and Bar to the M.C. in 1919. In the Second World war he commanded the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards during 1940 and was awarded the D.S.O. He was placed in charge of the 30th Guards Brigade in 1941 and the 6th Guards Brigade during the following year. During 1942-45 he was Commander of the Guards Armoured Division. He was awarded the C.B. in 1945 and placed on Retired Pay in 1947. He was Lieutenant of H.M. Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard, 1951-67. Created a C.V.O. in 1957, he was appointed Colonel of the Grenadier Guards for the period 1961-74, during which time he was created K.C.V.O. in 1967 and G.C.V.O. in 1974. Succeeding his father as Baronet in 1949, he was at times D.L. for Co. Antrim, J.P. for Suffolk, Governor of Harrow School, 1947-52 and Deputy Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons, 1969-76. Major-General Adair died on 4 August 1988.