The Carol Benton Collection of Miniature Medals

The mounted group of twelve miniature dress medals attributed to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Field, G.C.B., K.C.M.G., Royal Navy, Order of the Bath, Military Division, gold and enamel, ring suspension; Order of St. Michael and St. George, gold and enamel, ring suspension; China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-20, 5 clasps, North Sea 1915, North Sea 1916, Jutland 31 May’ 16, North Sea 1917, North Sea 1918; Victory Medal 1914-19, M.I.D. oak leaf; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Russia, Order of St. Anne, with swords, silver-gilt and enamel, rosette on ribbon; Romania, Order of the Crown, 1st type, 4th Class with swords, silver-gilt and enamel, rosette on ribbon; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, 4th Class, silver, gold and enamel, rosette on ribbon; U.S.A., Navy Distinguished Service Medal, silver-gilt and enamel, mounted Court style, in Gaunt, London leather case with ‘Rear Admiral F. L. Field, C.B., C.M.G.’ in gold lettering on lid, French and Romanian Orders with some enamel damage, most nearly extremely fine (12) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Carol Benton Collection of Miniature Medals.

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The recipient’s full-size medals were previously sold at Spink 18 March 1997 and Sotheby’s 30 June 1983. The miniatures ex Gordon Fairbank Collection.

Frederick Laurence Field was born in Killarney on 19 April 1871. Entering the Royal Navy, he served in the China War of 1900 and was mentioned in despatches for his work in repairing damaged armoured trains. At the capture of Tientsin he was wounded - hit in the head by a bullet. In the Great War, he was present at the battle of Jutland, being Captain of the battleship King George V and was mentioned for the great skill with which he managed his ship in the action. In July 1918 he was appointed Director of Torpedoes and Mines at the Admiralty and was promoted to Rear-Admiral. He became Third Sea Lord and Controller in March 1920 and in 1923-24 he commanded a squadron of ships led by the Hood on a world cruise to ‘show the flag’. Field attained the rank of First Sea Lord of the Admiralty and Chief of Naval Staff in 1930, a position he was to hold until 1933. He died on 24 October 1945. Sold with some copied research.