A most unusual Great War M.B.E. group of twelve awarded to Wing Commander J. E. Parkin, Royal Air Force, late Grenadier Guards and Royal Flying Corps - described as ‘a great Grenadier’, he served as a Sergeant-Major in the 1st Battalion during the retreat from Mons and was mentioned in despatches by Sir John French in November 1914

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1917; Royal Victorian Medal, E.VII.R., bronze (No. 5572 Drill Sergt. J. E. Parkin, 1st Bn. Gren. Gds. Bearer Party); Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (5572 L. Cpl. J. E. Parkin, 1/Gren. Gds.); 1914 Star, with clasp (5572 S. Mjr. J. E. Parkin, 1/G. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (5572 W.O. Cl. I J. E. Parkin, G. Gds.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1911, engraved ‘No. 5572 Drill Sergt. J. E. Parkin, 1st Bn. Gren. Gds.’; Coronation 1937; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (5072 S. Mjr. J. E. Parkin, G. Gds.), note slightly different number; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (Corpl. J. E. Parking, Gren. Gds.), regimentally impressed naming, note surname spelling, the Sudan awards with contact marks, edge bruising and polished, thus good fine, and the Coronation 1911 with replacement suspension ring, otherwise generally very fine and better (12) £1400-1600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals The Property of a Gentleman.

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M.B.E. London Gazette 7 June 1918.

James Edward “Jimmy” Parkin was born in Denby, Derbyshire and enlisted in the Grenadier Guards in November 1895. Advanced to Lance-Corporal in December of the following year, he witnessed active service in the Nile Expedition from July to October 1898, and attained the rank of Colour-Sergeant by May 1902. Subsequently appointed a Drill Sergeant, he was awarded the R.V.M. for services in the Bearer Company of the 1st Battalion at the funeral of Edward VII, and his L.S. & G.C. Medal in AO 99 of 1914, following his promotion to Sergeant-Major in May 1912.

Embarked for Belgium in the latter rank with the 1st Battalion in October 1914, he quickly saw action, an indication of the unit’s experiences being reflected in the 56,000 rounds of machine-gun ammunition it expended in the last week of the same month. Parkin was mentioned in Sir John French’s despatch for Ypres-Armentieres, dated 20 November 1914 (London Gazette 17 February 1915 refers), and went on to serve at Neuve Chappelle and Festubert prior to his return to the U.K. in July 1915.

Transferred by special selection to the Royal Flying Corps in August 1915, he was commissioned as a Quarter-Master & Lieutenant in the same month, in which rank he served as an Assistant Equipment Officer in the R.F.C’s Military Wing. Advanced to Squadron Leader in the newly established Royal Air Force in April 1918, Parkin was awarded his M.B.E. for services at the R.A.F. Recruits Depot. According to one feature writer, ‘his name was a legend in the R.A.F.’, in which service he remained until being placed on the Retired List with the honorary rank of Wing Commander in March 1924. And he served in the same rank in the 1939-45 War, his name still appearing in the list of retired officers as late as 1966; sold with a full file of research, including several copy portrait photographs.