Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: George Stratton, Head Groom and afterwards a King’s Messenger

Royal Household Faithful Service Medal, G.V.R., suspension dated ‘1893-1913’, with Bars for “Thirty Years” and “Forty Years” (George Henry Stratton); Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., silver; Jubilee 1897, bronze; Coronation 1902, bronze; Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935, new ribands but otherwise mounted court-style as worn, good very fine (6) £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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George Henry Stratton was born at Wormegay, near Downham, Norfolk in October 1863, the son of a farmer, and entered Royal service as a Pony Boy in 1883. Appointed Head Groom to H.R.H. Prince Albert Victor Christian Edward, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, in 1886, he transferred to the service of the Sovereign on the Duke’s death in 1892, and served as Head Groom until 1921, in which period he was awarded the Jubilee Medal 1897, the Coronation Medals for 1902 and 1911, and the Royal Household Faithful Service Medal in 1913. Appointed a King’s Messenger in 1922, Stratton served in the same capacity until 1932, adding the Royal Victorian Medal in silver to his accolades in June of the latter year, in addition to “Thirty Years” and “Forty Years” Bars to his Household award. He died at Heacham, Norfolk in April 1943, aged 79 years, and was buried in Sandringham Churchyard; sold with related research, including a pair of charming copy photographs of Stratton as groom at York Cottage in 1902, with the Princes Edward, Albert and Henry, and another image of his gravestone at Sandringham.