Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The C.M.G., St. John Knight of Grace group of five to Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Arthur Leetham, K.C.V.O., C.M.G., F.S.A., Royal Monmouth Engineers, late 20th and 13th Hussars

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, slight enamel damage to centres; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knight of Grace set of insignia, neck badge and breast star, silver and enamel, in case of issue; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Suakin 1885 (Lieut., 20th Husrs.); Coronation 1902, silver; Khedive’s Star 1884-6, unnamed, last three mounted as worn, Egypt pitted, fine; others nearly very fine and better (6) £900-1200

Arthur Leetham was born on 1 March 1859 and was educated at King’s College School. In 1877 he joined the West Norfolk Militia and in 1880 was commissioned into the 20th Hussars; with them he served in Egypt during the Suakin 1885 campaign and in the Egyptian Frontier Field Force, 1885-86. In 1886 he exchanged to the 13th Hussars and in 1898 exchanged as a Captain to the Royal Monmouth Engineers, being advanced to Major and Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel in 1903. For the years 1900-02 he was Private Secretary to Lord Raglan, the Under Secretary of State for War and for the War Years, 1914-18 he was attached to the Personal Staff of the Secretary of State for War. During 1914-16 was for some time Personal Assistant to Lord Kitchener. He was created a Knight in 1914 and was awarded the C.M.G. in 1918 and K.C.V.O. in 1924. He was sometime Vice-President and Secretary of the Royal United Service Institution, Vice-President of the Society of Nautical Research and Vice-President of the Society of Yorkshiremen in London and of the Yorkshire Society. Lieutenant-Colonel Leetham died on 13 January 1933. Sold with a quantity of copied research and roll extracts which confirm only the single clasp ‘Suakin 1885’ on his Egypt Medal.