Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: George Sydenham Clarke, 1st Baron Sydenham of Combe, late Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Engineers

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (Capt., R.E.); Coronation 1911, silver, unnamed; Khedive’s Star , 1882, unnamed, minor contact marks, very fine (3) £500-600

George Sydenham Clarke was born in Lincolnshire on 4 July 1848, the son of Rev. W. J. Clarke of Knoyle House, Folkestone. He was educated at Haileybury and Wimbledon School and the Royal Military Academy, passing out first from the latter. He entered the Royal Engineers as a Lieutenant in July 1868 and was on the staff of R.I.E. College, Coopers Hill, from 1871-80. Promoted Captain in August 1880, he served in the Egypt expedition of 1882 with the R.E. and the Sudan expedition of 1885 with the Intelligence Department as Assistant Political Officer. He was present at the reconnaissance to Hasheen, the engagement at Hasheen and the affair at Tamai and Thakhool. For his services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 25 August 1885). He was then employed by the War Office until 1892, being Secretary of the Colonial Defence Committee, 1885-92. Promoted Major in 1887, he was appointed Superintendent of the Royal Carriage Factory 1894-1901, was created a K.C.M.G. in 1893 and attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1894. Recognition of his great ability saw him appointed Governor of Victoria, Australia, 1901-04 and then Secretary of the Imperial Defence Committee, 1904-07. His services to the nation being rewarded with the G.C.M.G. in 1905 and the G.C.I.E. in 1907. His next appointment was as Governor of Bombay, 1907-13, resulting in the award of the G.C.S.I. in 1911 and being raised to the peerage as the 1st Baron Sydenham of Combe in 1913. Further appointments during the war years followed, including that of Chairman of the Royal Commission on Contagious Diseases, 1913-15; Chairman of the Central Appeal Tribunal, 1915-16; Chairman of the Executive Committee of the British Empire League, 1915-21; President of the British Science Guild, 1917-20 and others. In 1917 he was created a G.B.E. The author of several works on engineering and naval power; Lord Sydenham of Combe died on 7 February 1933.