The Ron Penhall Collection: Important Awards and Memorabilia of Lawrence of Arabia Interest

A Great War Red Sea operations group of six awarded to Captain A. G. Warren, Royal Navy, aboard whose command the likes of Lawrence of Arabia and clandestine types from the Arab Bureau took passage - work that won him a rare ‘naval example’ of the Order of El Nahda

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Lieut. A. G. Warren, H.M.S. Blanche); 1914-15 Star (Commr. A. G. Warren, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. A. G. Warren, R.N.; Egypt, Order of the Nile, 3rd Class neck badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; Hedjaz, Order of El Nahda, 3rd Class neck badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, generally very fine or better (6) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Ron Penhall Collection: Important Awards and Memorabilia of Lawrence of Arabia Interest.

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Arthur Gainsford Warren was born in Lincoln in June 1874, the son of a clergyman. Entering the training ship Britannia as a Cadet in January 1886, he was appointed a Midshipman in H.M.S. Anson in the Channel Squadron in the early 1890s and, having been advanced to Lieutenant in April 1896, served in Blanche off South Africa during the Boer War.

A Commander serving at the shore establishment Pembroke by the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, his first seagoing appointment was as captain of the armed merchant cruiser Digby in August-December 1915, in which latter month he removed his command to the R.I.M.S cruiser Dufferin. Here, then, the commencement of protracted service in the Red Sea Patrol, his service record noting an early commendation for good work ‘in connection with Arab revolt from Turkish rule’ from the Foreign Office and a recommendation for his advancement to Captain; so, too, a “mention” from the G.O.C. Egypt and the award of his Order of the Nile ‘for valuable services rendered in connection with the Hedjaz operations’; likewise his name being brought to notice by the Secretary of State for War.

Warren’s work in the Dufferin receives due recognition in Orientations, by Sir Ronald Storrs, one of a number of Arab Bureau types to take passage in her and make use of her facilities for secret conferences; so, too, a mention in Seven Pillars of Wisdom, for Lawrence of Arabia was similarly embarked on two occasions in July-August 1917 - following the fall of Akaba, Dufferin transported 600 Turkish prisoners into captivity. Indeed Warren and the Dufferin lent valuable support to the Arab revolt in all manner of ways, including the transportation of tons of tibben - chopped barley straw - to feed our camels.

In addition to his Egyptian Order of the Nile (London Gazette 19 December 1917 refers), he was awarded the Order of El Nahda of Hedjaz (London Gazette 27 July 1920 refers), and was placed on the Retired List as a Captain in August of the latter year. Warren died in March 1940; sold with a file of research.