The Collection of Medals formed by the late Alan Wolfe

A Great War C.M.G. group of five awarded to Captain L. W. Braithwaite, Royal Navy, who was severely wounded during the Boxer rebellion in 1900 and specially promoted for his services in China

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (Sub. Lt. L. W. Braithwaite, R.N. H.M.S. Endymion) official correction to rank; 1914-15 Star (Commr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with small M.I.D. oak leaf (Commr., R.N.) the last four mounted as worn, together with companion mounted set of five miniature medals, good very fine (10) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late Alan Wolfe.

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Lawrence Walter Braithwaite was born at Ramsgate on 18 July 1878, and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in July 1892, aboard the training ship Britannia. As Sub-Lieutenant in Endymion he served in China during the Boxer Rebellion. He landed with the Naval Brigade under sir E. H. Seymour, for the relief of Pekin, and was severely wounded at Hsiku on 22 June 1900. He was specially promoted Lieutenant on 9 November 1900, for services in China. Braithwaite was promoted Commander in June 1913, and to Captain in December 1917.

Braithwaite saw service in the Cameroons campaign of 1914-15, and was mentioned in the despatch of Major-General Sir Charles Dobell, K.C.B. for services in October 1914: ‘My next objective was Edea, on which place I determined an advance should be made from three directions, two by land and one by river. Strong forces were moved from Japoma and by the Njong River to Dehane, thence by a track towards Edea. The third force proceeded by the Sanaga River; the navigation of this river is most difficult, dangerous bars hinder entrance into its mouth and sandbanks obstruct the passage up to Edea. The feat performed by Commander L. W. Braithwaite, R.N., in navigating an armed flotilla on the Sanaga was a remarkable one. Thus the combined movement, outlined above, was entirely successful and Edea was occupied on the morning of 26th October.’ (London Gazette 31 May 1916)

He served subsequently as Commander of H.M.A.S. Sydney from Christmas Day 1916 until the end of the following March, and then at the Admiralty. He was awarded the C.M.G. in May 1919, ‘for valuable services as head of the Auxiliary Patrol Organisation since the 31st May 1917.’ He served as Flag Captain and Chief of Staff to C-in-C, East Indies, 1919-21; Chief of Staff to C-in-C, Plymouth Station, 1921-25; Senior Officer of the Reserve Fleet at the Nore, 1925-26; Commodore and Chief of Staff to C-in-C, China Station, 1927-29. Placed on the retired list in 1929, he was promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1934, and was appointed J.P. for Plymouth in 1938. Admiral Braithwaite died at Plymouth on 18 January 1961.