Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War C.M.G. group of five awarded to Mr E. E. N. Macdonell, H.B.M. Consul in Lourenço Marques during the Boer War, and liaison officer with the Portuguese forces in German East Africa during the Great War

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Errol Napier Macdonnell Esq:); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (E. Mac Donell.); Portugal, Order of Aviz, Grand Cross set of insignia, comprising sash badge, silver-gilt and enamels, and breast star in silver, silver-gilt and enamels, the badge lacking suspension loop, no sash, minor chipping to centres of the C.M.G., otherwise generally good very fine (6) £800-£1,000

Edgar Errol Napier MacDonell was born on 10 October 1874, son of Rt. Hon. Sir Hugh MacDonell, P.C., G.C.M.G., C.B., British Minister to Portugal. He was educated at Eton until 1891 and then from 1894 to 1897 served with the British Consulate in Lisbon. In 1898 he became Vice-Consul at Chinde and was later Consul at Mozambique and Beira. 

During the Boer War he was Acting Consul-General at Lourenço Marques, 1901-02, and was one of only three members of the Consular Service there to be awarded the Q.S.A. The medal roll states ‘served throughout the war in Consular capacity in Portuguese East Africa, Acting Consul at Beira, occasionally acted as Press Censor, been to Komati Poort on service’. In 1902 he was transferred to Monrovia, Liberia, and was subsequently Consul at Piraeus, at Bucharest, and again at Lourenço Marques, where he received the substantive rank of Consul-General in 1913. In March 1917, he was appointed Chief Liaison Officer with the Portuguese forces in German East Africa with the rank of Major on the Staff (promoted to Colonel, despatches London Gazette 7 March 1918, Commander, Order of Avis). In March 1918, he resumed charge at Lourenço Marques, and was created C.M.G. in July following. In November 1920, he was appointed Consul-General at Rio de Janeiro until his retirement on pension in 1924. He was a member of the Eccentric Club and died in London on 4 December 1928.

Note: He was only awarded the Commander class of the Order of Aviz.