A collection of medals awarded to Robert Edmund Alford, K.B....

Hammer

£2,300

A collection of medals awarded to Robert Edmund Alford, K.B.E, C.M.G. (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, awarded 1960) C.M.G. (The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, awarded 1951), Governor and commander-in-chief of St Helena, and Chief Secretary to the Government of Zanzibar, recipient of Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar, awarded 1958. Comprising: K.B.E Star, (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, (Civil) Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire) ‘For God And The Empire’, Order of the British Empire, with central gilt medallion with King George V and Queen Mary portraits in profile, red enamel ring with gilt letters, four pointed silver star, K.B.E, (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, (Civil) Knight Commander neck badge, silver gilt and pale blue enamel to each of the four three-pointed leaves, with crown and suspension, red and white ribbon, For God And The Empire’, Order of the British Empire, with central gilt medallion with King George V and Queen Mary portraits in profile, red enamel ring with gilt letters, with original Garrard & Co velvet-fitted leather box, gilt K.B.E. letters to the top, plus a large award certificate signed in black ink by Her Majesty Elizabeth II (signed Elizabeth R.) with official seal dated June 1960 awarding Alford the ‘Ordinary Knight Commander of the civil division of the most excellent order of the British empire.’ Signed in black ink ‘Philip’ (HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh) as Grand Master. C.M.G (The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George) with red and blue striped ribbon and a seven armed white enamel maltese cross of the Order, blue enamel outer circlet with ‘Auspicium Melioris Aevi’ in gold lettering and enamel St George and dragon to centre, beneath royal crown and ring suspension, with original Garrard & Co velvet-fitted leather box, gilt C.M.G. letters to the top, and original award certificate signed in black ink by Her Majesty Elizabeth II (signed Elizabeth R.) with official seal, plus certificate for the same C.M.G from George VI for third class Order of St. Michael and St. George VI, dated 7th June 1951, with facsimile George R signature, and accompanying letter from the chancery office regarding ‘His Late Majesty Kinge George VI.’ In original envelope, Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar, second class, eight pointed silver star, the face with a circular red enamel medallion inscribed in gilt Arabic characters ‘Kawkab al-Durri al-Zanzibari’ (Brilliant Star of Zanzibar) within a white enamel ring, with original red leather, velvet-fitted box by Elkington & Co, plus associated letter signed by Her Majesty Elizabeth II (signed Elizabeth R.) black ink, with official seal, approving of his award of the Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar, a letter written in arabic from Khalifa bin Harub, Sultan of Zanzibar awarding the Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar to Robert Alford, signed in ink by the Sultan and sealed, along with English translation, plus miniatures of the above and WWII military medals awarded to R.E. Alford, to K.B.E, C.M.B, 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star with clasp North Africa 1942-43, Italy Star, Defence Medal (Geo IV with lion and dragon on reverse dated 1939-45) and Queen Elizabeth II 1953 coronation medal miniature (in glazed display frame), plus assorted paperwork and numerous letters regarding the above medals and awards including letters of congratulation on award of C.M.G, and K.B.E and Star of Zanzibar, including letter of invitation to an investiture at Buckingham Palace in July 1960, Supplement to the London Gazette Friday 1st June 1951, and two framed black and white photographs of R.E. Alford, K.B.E, C.M.E, and a signed black and white photograph of Sultan Khalifa of Zanzibar, full length portrait standing, signed in ink to the card mount, unframed. (q)
Provenance: Estate of the late Ralph Robert Alford, son of Robert Edwin Alford, K.B.E, C.M.G, and Teresa, Lady Alford, nee Teresa Mary Margaret Knill, who was daughter of Mary Kathleen Knill, grand-daughter of Margaret Mary Knill (married to Henry Francis Purcell), and great-grand daughter of Jane Knill, (married name: Jane Welby Pugin, who was the third wife of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin.)