Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The K.B.E., Order of St. John group of seven awarded to Sir Herbert D. W. Lewis, Commissioner for Wales, Order of St. John of Jerusalem

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, K.B.E. (Civil) Knight Commander’s 1st type set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with full neck riband; Star, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, unmarked; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knight of Grace’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver and enamel, lions and unicorns in angles, with full neck riband; Star, silver and enamel, lions and unicorns in angles, reverse stamped ‘JBC’, with gold retaining pin, minor enamel damage to centre of Star; 1914 Star (H. D. W. Lewis. B.R.C.S. & O. St. J.J.); British War and Victory Medals (H. D. W. Lewis. B.R.C. & St. J.J.); Coronation 1911, St. John Ambulance Brigade (Asst. Commr. H. Lewis.); St. John Service Medal (4314. Comm. for Wales Sir Herbert D. W. Lewis K.B.E. Priory for Wales 1922) mounted as worn, good very fine (9) £1400-1800

K.B.E. London Gazette 17 November 1922.

Sir Herbert David William Lewis was born on 25 February 1872, the eldest son of the Reverend David Lewis, Rector of Briton Ferry, and was educated at Rossall School. He served with the British Red Cross and Order of St. John of Jerusalem throughout the Great War from August 1914 as Commissioner for Wales, and represented the Order of St. John in France at the Allied Forces Hospital in Boulogne; in addition he organised St. John Hospitals throughout Wales; raised 1,000 men for military hospitals; and formed several Voluntary Aid Detachment units. Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his War service (London Gazette 7 January 1918), he was promoted to Knight Commander in November 1922, and was additionally created a Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John. He died on 23 January 1931.

For the recipient’s related miniature awards, see Lot 1363.