An outstanding Collection of Awards relating to the Order of St John

The G.C.B., O. St. J. group of six awarded to General Sir John St. George, Royal Artillery - who commanded the siege train at Sebastopol and was latterly Master Gunner, St. James’s Park

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, G.C.B. (Military) Knight Grand Cross set of insignia, sash badge, silver-gilt and enamel; breast star, silver, gold appliqué and enamel, with gold pin, with full sash; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Bailiff set of insignia, neck badge, 51 x 53mm., 18ct. gold and enamel; breast star, 58 x 58mm., gold and enamel, both embellished, star with enamel damage; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Col. John St. George) engraved naming; France, Second Empire, Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, gold and enamel, rosette on ribbon, some enamel damage; Ottoman Empire, Order of Medjidie, 4th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed, contemporary tailor’s copy by ‘J.B.’, these four mounted as worn, in Collingwood, London leather case; together with an Order of the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick, 31mm., silver medal, unnamed, obverse, coat-of-arms, reverse, cross of the order, ‘Fidelis et Constans’, with silver-gilt cross suspension, the centre set with a red paste ‘Sacred Heart’, on green ribbon, generally good very fine except where stated (9) £3400-3800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An outstanding Collection of Awards relating to the Order of St John.

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John St. George was born on 18 January 1812 and was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He entered the Royal Artillery as a 2nd Lieutenant on 19 May 1828 and was promoted to Lieutenant in July 1829; Captain in April 1841 and Lieutenant-Colonel in February 1854. He served in the Crimean campaign from March 1855 and commanded the siege train at Sebastopol. For his services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 2 November 1855) awarded the brevet of Colonel, created a Companion of the Bath, and was awarded the Queen’s medal with clasp, Legion of Honour 4th Class, Order of Medjidie 4th Class and Turkish medal. St. George was promoted to Colonel in August 1857; Colonel Commandant in January 1872; Major-General in September 1865; Lieutenant-General in March 1873 and attained the rank of General in October 1877. During 1859-69 he was successively President of the Ordnance Committee and then Director of Ordnance at the War Office. From 1884 he was Master Gunner, St. James’s Park - the ceremonial head of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. St. George was awarded the K.C.B. in 1869 and G.C.B. in 1889. Appointed a Knight of Justice of the Order of St. John in 1861; for many years he held the post of Chancellor of the Order. He was Chancellor in 1888 when the Order was given a Royal Charter by the Queen. Soon after that event he was granted the rank of Honorary Bailiff in recognition of his services. He was also a member of the ‘Ancient and Most Benevolent Order of the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick’ - a friendly society he joined in 1877. Sir John St. George died on 17 March 1891 and was buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.

With two copied photographs of the recipient wearing his insignia; together with another photograph of his memorial as Chancellor of the Order of St. John. With copied memoir of his life and career.