Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An important mounted group of twenty-six miniature dress medals attributed to Field Marshal Viscount Alanbrooke, K.G., G.C.B., O.M., G.C.V.O., D.S.O., Commander 2nd Army Corps 1939-40, C-in-C Home Forces 1940-41, Chief of Imperial General Staff 1941-46

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath (Military) gold and enamel; The Royal Victorian Order, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, gold and enamel, with Second Award Bar, complete with top, lacking reverse centre; 1914 Star, with Bar; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Delhi Durbar 1911; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Belgium, Croix de Guerre 1914-18; Poland, Order of Polonia Restituta, gilt and enamels; U.S.S.R., Order of Suvorov, 1st class, silver, gilt and enamels; France, Legion of Honour, gilt and enamels; Belgium, Order of Leopold I, (Military), gilt and enamels; U.S.A., Distinguished Service Medal (Army); Czechoslovakia, Order of the White Lion (Military), gilt and enamels; Czechoslovakia, Military Order of the White Lion, 1st Class star; Greece, Royal Order of the Redeemer, gilt and enamels; France, Croix de Guerre 1939-45 with palm; Belgium, Croix de Guerre 1939-45, with palm; Czechoslovakia, War Cross 1939-45, the group court mounted as worn and contained in an old leather carrying case, nearly extremely fine except where stated (26) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Miniature Medals from the Collection of Mark Cline.

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Ex D.N.W. 25 February 1998, lot 364.

Alan Francis Brooke was born in Bagnères de Bogorre, France on 23 July 1883, son of Sir Victor Brooke, Bart and Lady Brooke-Cole-Brooke. Educated abroad and at the R.M.A. Woolwich, he joined the Royal Field Artillery in 1902; transferring to the Royal Horse Artillery in 1909. Served in France from September 1914, in command of an ammunition column. Served as Adjutant of the 2nd Indian R.H.A. Brigade in February 1915 and was Brigade Major of the 18th Divisional artillery from November 1915. Appointed G.S.O.2, R.A. Canadian Corps in February 1917; and G.S.O. 2 R.A. First Army, July 1918-March 1919. For his services he was six times mentioned in despatches, awarded the D.S.O. and Bar and granted the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel.

Between the wars he served as a General Staff Officer, Northumbrian Division T.A., 1920-23; Staff College, Camberley, 1923-27; Commandant at the School of Artillery, 1929-32; Army Instructor at the Imperial Defence College, 1932-34; Commander of the 8th Infantry Brigade, 1934-35; Inspector of the Royal Artillery, 1935-36; Director of Military Training, War Officer, 1936-37; Commander of the Mobile Division, 1937-38; and Commander of the Anti-Aircraft Corps, 1938-39.

In 1939 he was appointed G.O.C.-in-C. Anti-Aircraft Command, followed by appointments as G.O.C.-in-C. Southern Command, 1939-40 and Commander of the Second Army Corps, B.E.F., 1939-40. At a critical time in the war he served as C-in-C. Home Forces, 1940-41 and was afterwards Chief of the Imperial General Staff, 1941-46. Served as an A.D.C. to the King, 1942-46 and attained the rank of Field Marshal in 1944.

For his inestimable wartime services he was created a K.G. in 1946, G.C.B. in 1942 and O.M. in 1946. He was created 1st Viscount Allanbrooke, of Brookeborough in 1946. In addition to which he was awarded a formidable array of orders and decorations given by grateful allies, some of which form the miniature group above.

Post-war he was created a G.C.V.O. in 1953. Amongst his many appointments at this time, he was Constable of the Tower of London, 1950-55 and H.M. Lieutenant, County of London, 1950-57. Viscount Alanbrooke died on 17 June 1963.

Sold with a letter of provenance from the late Ron Barden, formerly of Baldwins, ‘... In 1964 A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd. mounted for display purposes, for RA Woolwich, Lord Alanbrooke’s orders & medals. The miniatures were not required by RA Woolwich, nor by Lady Alanbrooke. Baldwin’s then gave the group of miniatures to me & I retained the group from 1964 to Feb. 1998.’ With some copied research.