Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A K.C.B., C.M.G., O.B.E. group of four to Sir David R. Serpell, Civil Servant

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. (Civil) Knight Commander’s set of insignia, neck badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1958, with neck cravat; breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, with gold pin, in Garrard, London case of issue; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamel, with neck cravat, in Garrard, London case of issue; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt, in Royal Mint case of issue; Coronation 1953, in card box of issue, all unnamed, extremely fine (4) £1800-2200

David Radford Serpell was born on 10 November 1911, the second son of Charles Robert and Elsie Leila Serpell, of Plymouth. He was educated at Plymouth College and Exeter College, Oxford. He also attended the University of Toulouse and Syracuse University. He was on the Imperial Economic Committee, 1937-39, before joining the Civil Service at the Ministry of Food, 1939-42 and Ministry of Fuel and Power, 1942-45. Was Under-Secretary, H.M. Treasury, 1954-60; Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Transport, 1960-63; Second Secretary, Board of Trade, 1963-66; Second Permanent Secretary, 1966-68; Second Secretary, Treasury, 1968; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, 1968-70; Permanent Secretary, Department of Energy, 1970-72. Was Chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council, 1973-77; Member of the British Railways Board, 1974-82.

With bestowal documents (4) for the O.B.E. (1944); C.M.G. 1952); C.B. (1962); and K.C.B. (1968). With copied Who’s Who entry and other research.