Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Knight Bachelor’s Great War group of seven awarded to Commander Sir Geoffrey E. Duveen, Royal Marines, a Motor Owner Driver attached Royal Naval Division in 1914, who later transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and survived the sinking of H.M.S. Cassandra by a mine during the British intervention in the Russian Civil War

Knight Bachelor’s Badge (2), 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, hallmarks for London 1948, in Royal Mint case of issue; 3rd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘Commander Sir E. G. [sic] Duveen V.D., R.N.V.R.’, with full and miniature width neck ribands, in Garrard, London, case of issue; 1914 Star, with copy clasp (Temp. Lieut G. Duveen, R.M. Attd. R.N. Div.) gilded; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. G. E. Duveen. R.N.V.R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Decoration, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1928, cleaned, generally good very fine (8) £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of 1914 Stars to the Royal Naval Division.

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Collection

Approximately 42 1914 Stars and 16 clasps issued to Motor Owner Drivers.

Approximately 144 G.V.R. awards of the R.N.V.R. Decoration.

Geoffrey Edgar Duveen was born at 16 York Street, Portman Square, London in July 1883, and was the son of Henry Duveen - an art dealer and an eminent philatelist who was considered one of the ‘Fathers of Philately’, who was in partnership with his brother Sir Joseph J. Duveen. He was educated at Bath and Merton College, Oxford and called to the Bar at the Inner Temple. Duveen was a Motor Owner Driver appointed to a Temporary commission in the Royal Marines as 2nd Lieutenant on 29 September 1914. These Motor Owner Drivers were ‘gentlemen’ car owners who volunteered to take their cars to the war zone and drive them under military command. They were all given Temporary commissions in the Royal Marines. Duveen served in the latter capacity at Antwerp, and advanced to Sub Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in January 1915. He was subsequently posted to the Royal Naval Division Headquarters Staff at Crystal Palace, and advanced to Lieutenant in January 1916.

Duveen was examined by the Medical Director General’s Department and found to be totally deaf in one ear in February 1916. As a consequence he was declared unfit for active service afloat, and continued to serve at Crystal Palace. Duveen was subsequently posted to H.M.S. Cormorant at Gibraltar, and held various posts there. He was posted to H.M.S. Cassandra (light cruiser),12 June 1918, and served with her during the British intervention in the Russian Civil War. The latter was sunk by a German mine, 5 December 1918, near Saaremaa in the Gulf of Finland. Cassandra quickly sank, but most of her crew were rescued by the destroyers Westminster and Vendetta with only eleven of her crew lost. Duveen survived the sinking, and was demobilised in March 1919.

Duveen transferred to the Permanent List of the London Division, R.N.V.R. in August 1921, and advanced to Lieutenant Commander in January 1926. He received the Freedom of the City of London in 1927. Duveen retired as Commander in September 1934 (awarded R.N.V.R. Decoration in 1934), but was re-engaged for service as Temporary Commander in September 1939. His Second War service included with the Spartiate depot ship, Glasgow, the Baccante, Aberdeen, as President, Admiralty Trade Division, and as Yeoman, Staff of the Flag Officer in Charge, London. Commander Duveen retired in August 1945, and received a Knighthood in the New Year’s Honours List of 1948, in recognition of services as Chairman of the Royal Ear Hospital, London. He was also Master of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers, a noted coin collector, and died in 1975.

Sold with copied research.