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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 546

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendent

A Great War O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Major-General H. H. Blake, Royal Army Medical Corps, who having served on the Western Front went on to work closely with Dr Ludwig Guttmann at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, their surgeries revolutionised the treatment of spinal injuries and ultimately led to the foundation of the Paralympic Games

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919, on post-1937 riband; 1914-15 Star (Capt. H. H. Blake. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. H. H. Blake); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (Lt. Col. H. H. Blake. R.A.M.C.); Delhi Durbar 1911; Coronation 1937, mounted as worn, toned, good very fine (7)

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

Harold Henry Blake was born at Great Yarmouth in August 1883, from families of practicing Doctors. Educated at Framlingham, Blake initially served with the Northumberland Fusiliers before qualifying in Medicine at Durham in 1907, being commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 4 February 1908, serving as the House Surgeon at the Brompton Cancer Hospital. Advanced Captain, 4 August 1911, he served in France from December 1914, was advanced Lieutenant-Colonel, 13 June 1918 before being awarded the O.B.E. and twice mentioned in desptaches (London Gazette 30 December 1918 & 10 July 1919, refer) by war's end.

Blake practised across the globe in the subsequent years, in India, China and Hong Kong amongst others. With the onset of the Second World War, he was appointed Acting Major-General as Deputy Director of Medical Services, Western Command in 1939-40 and Assistant Director of Medical Services, Aldershot, 1941-43. His final posting was as Superintendent of the Stoke Mandeville Hospital from 1943-46. During this tenure, he came into close contact with the famous Dr Ludwig Guttmann and it was during this period that Guttmann and Blake revolutionised the treatment of spinal injuries. It was at Stoke Mandeville that the very first 'paraplegic games' were held in 1948, running alongside the London 1948 Summer Olympic Games.

Blake himself was portrayed in the BBC's 2012 production The Best of Men, which serialised the work at the hosptial. The Major-General was later employed by the Seaford District Council and died in 1960; sold with a white metal King Edward VIII coronation medal and copied research.

For the recipient's miniature dress medals, please see Lot 1022A.

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Sold for
£1,000