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Auction: 1006 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 8

An Interesting Great War 1918 ´Military Division´ O.B.E. Group of Four to Naval Intelligence Officer, Commander H.M. Rundle, Royal Navy, Who Distinguished Himself During the Benin Expedition, 1897, and Received the Thanks of The Portuguese Governor-General of Mozambique, May 1904, For His Gallant Conduct During a Fire at the Lourenco Marques Customs House, Where a Quantity of Dynamite Was Stored a) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1st type, Military Division, Officer´s (O.B.E.) breast Badge, silver-gilt (Hallmarks for London 1919) b) East and West Africa 1887-1900, one clasp, Benin 1897 (Lieut. H.J. Rundle, H.M.S. Magpie), minor edge bruising c) British War Medal (Commr. H.M.J. Rundle. R.N.) d) France, Republic, Legion of Honour, Knight´s breast badge, 54mm including wreath suspension x 40mm, silver, gold and enamel, minor enamel damage to arms of last, otherwise very fine or better (4) Estimate £ 750-850 O.B.E. London Gazette 7.6.1918. Acting Commander Henry John Montague Rundle, R.N. ´For services in connection with the War.´ Commander Henry John Montague Rundle, O.B.E., born Stoke, Devonport, October 1874; educated at Stubbington House, Fareham and H.M.S. Britannia; joined the Royal Navy as Midshipman, February 1890; Sub-Lieutenant, November 1893; Lieutenant, November 1895, serving in H.M.S. Magpie. Served in the punitive expedition commanded by Rear Admiral Rawson, C.B., and landed from the Squadron to punish the King of Benin for the massacre of the political expedition 1897, ending in the capture of Benin City, 18.2.1897. Captain H. V. Elliott later commented: ´Lieutenant Rundle, when with me in the Magpie performed a very praiseworthy act. During the Benin Expedition, in February 1897, I was steaming up the Benin River when the engines were brought up all standing through the propeller fouling a wire hawser. Mr Rundle stripped and went down without diving dress, and after considerable time and exertion succeeded in clearing the screw, and the ship was able to proceed. I consider Mr Rundle to have acted with much courage and great skill, for in order to clear the wire he had to work many feet below the surface of the water, and as the river was muddy he worked in total darkness.´ Rundle also received thanks from the Portuguese Governor-General of Mozambique for personal services rendered at a fire at the customs house at Lourenco Marques, East Africa, where a quantity of dynamite was stored. Promoted Lieutenant-Commander, May 1904, and served during the Great War as an Intelligence Officer on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Naval Centre Rosyth, August 1914 to March 1917. The Centre was commended by the Admiralty for ´efficiency and alertness´ on the occasion of the sinking of the German Submarine U-12. Appointed as Assistant Director of Minesweeping, on the Naval Staff at the Admiralty, March 1917, he retired with the rank of Commander in October 1919. In 1926 Commander Rundle was appointed Deputy Chief Inspector of the Coast Guard. Re-appointed to the Admiralty in 1939, he returned to the Retired List in December 1943.

Sold for
£850