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

An O. St. J. group of three awarded to Colonel D. J. Proby, late Hamilton, Irish Guards, late Coldstream Guards

The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s (Brother’s) breast badge, silver; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 2 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, Suakin 1885 (Lieut., 2/Cdm. Gds.); Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed, second with edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine and better (3) £350-400

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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Douglas James Hamilton was born in London on 28 September 1856, the only son of the Rt. Hon. LordClaud Hamilton and Lady Elizabeth Emma Proby - sister of the 5th Earl of Carysfort. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church Oxford and gained a B.A. in 1879 and M.A. in 1912. He was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards on 14 January 1880 and was promoted to Lieutenant in July 1881. Served in the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards in the Egyptian War of 1882 and was present at the engagement at Tel-el-Mahuta and at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir. Served in the expedition to the Sudan in 1885 with the 1st Battalion and was present at the engagement at Hasheen and that near Tofrek on 24 March 1885 and at the destruction of Temai. Promoted Captain in 1891, he exchanged for the 5th Battalion Royal Fusiliers later that year. Served as a Recruiting Staff Officer for Glasgow District, 1897-1900. Promoted to Major in 1900 when he transferred to the Irish Guards; promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1904 and received the brevet of Colonel in 1907, retiring in 1908. In 1904 he assumed the maternal name of ‘Proby’ by Royal Licence. Proby served as M.P. (U) for the Saffron Walden Division, Essex, January-December 1910. During 1914-17 he commanded the Irish Guards Regiment and Regimental District. Served as Deputy Lieutenant for Co. Wicklow and was J.P. for Huntingdon and Northamptonshire and was a member of the Huntingdon County Council from 1913 and High Sheriff for Cambridge and Huntingdon, 1923-24. He was appointed an Esquire of the Ordr of St. John of Jerusalem in 1926. Colonel Proby died on 18 November 1931. With some copied research and notes.