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

A remarkable K.B.E., O. St. J. group of thirteen awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Walter Gibbons, Scots Guards and Royal Army Service Corps - a Founder and Vice-Chairman of the Automobile Association

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, K.B.E. (Civil) Knight Commander’s 1st type set of insignia, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knight of Grace set of insignia (post-1926 type), neck badge, 58mm. dia. and breast star, 74mm. dia., silver and enamel, in case of issue; British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. Col. W. Gibbons); Order of the League of Mercy, badge, silver-gilt and enamel; British Red Cross Society War Commemorative Medal 1914-18, unnamed; Romania, Order of the Star, 1st type, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, rosette on ribbon; Romania, Order of the Crown, 1st type, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, rosette on ribbon, minor damage to reverse; Belgium, Red Cross Decoration, silver and enamel, enamel damage; Romania, Medical Merit Cross, 1st Class breast badge, gilt base metal and enamel; Belgium, King Albert Medal, bronze; France, Medal of Honour, 1st Class, gilt; Russia, Provisional Government, Red Cross Badge, gilt and enamel, with ornate ‘ribbon’ suspension, medals mounted court style for wear, in Spink. London leather case; together with a Romania, Order of the Crown, 1st type, Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck cravat, generally very fine and better (15) £1400-1600

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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Walter Gibbons was born on 14 May 1871. He was educated at St. Peter’s, Wolverhampton and in later life became a Consulting Engineer. Was attached to the 3rd Battalion Scots Guards and was afterwards gazetted to command the Royal Army Service Corps (Middlesex). For his many services during the war he was awarded orders and decorations from Belgium, France, Romania and Russia. A Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John, he was created a K.B.E. in 1920. He was further honoured by being appointed one of H.M. Deputy Lieutenants for the County of London and was admitted to the Freedom of the City of London. During the railway strike of 1919 he was instrumental in the organisation of food supplies for London and the Great Strike of 1921 he organised transport for London and the Home Counties. In 1905 he was one of the founders, and latterly the Vice-Chairman of the Automobile Association. He was the onetime Chairman of the Royal Botanic Society. Latterly living at 27 Chiltern Court, London, N.W.1, Sir Walter Gibbons died on 22 October 1933.

With copied photograph and copied research.