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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 801

An interesting group of five to Bandmaster 1st Class P. F. Grace, Royal Marines, who led the band of H.M.S. Effingham with distinction in a memorable performance at Emperor Haile Selassie's Coronation at Addis Ababa on 2 November 1930

1914-15 Star (R.M.B. 1764. Mus. P. F. Grace.); British War and Victory Medals (R.M.B. 1764 Mus. P. F. Grace.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (R.M.B. 1764 P. F. Grace. Bdmr. 2. R.M.B.); Ethiopia, Empire, Silver Jubilee 1955, 2nd Class Medal in silvered bronze, polished, light contact marks, generally very fine (5)

Perry Francis Grace was born at Hastings on 2 June 1896. He entered the Royal Naval School of Music as a band boy, aged 14, on 2 September 1910. Promoted Musician on 12 October 1912, he served aboard the battleship H.M.S. Dominion throughout the Great War. He advanced to Corporal on 29 September 1922 and Bandmaster 2nd Class on 18 July 1926. On 26 October that year he was awarded the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians as the best student of his year. He qualified as a Musical Instructor on 17 November 1926, receiving six shillings per diem and rose to Bandmaster 1st Class on 15 November 1929, and became a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music in January 1930.

Grace was serving as Bandmaster aboard the cruiser Effingham in November 1930, when the ship's Royal Marines band was sent to the Abyssinian capital Addis Ababa to take part in Haile Selassie I's Coronation (illustrated). The band performed a fanfare as the Emperor arrived outside St. George's Cathedral, cheered by enormous crowds. He mounted a dais to proclaim his legitimacy as 'King of Kings, Lion of the Tribe of Judah'. Diplomatic envoys from every foreign country sought his favour; Great Britain was represented by the Duke of Gloucester, resplendent in Hussar uniform. The Royal Marines band, under Grace's direction, played a 'cheerful version' of the Ethiopian National Anthem as Haile Selassie emerged from the Cathedral, newly crowned (The Daily Mail, 3 November 1930, refers). The Emperor paid the band the compliment of halting his car in front of them, listening for several minutes before his cavalcade departed. The band performed during his Coronation Dinner at the Palais Impérial that evening, and was described in Naval Orders as 'outstanding'. For his services, Grace received the Ethiopian Coronation Medal on 6 August 1931.

Grace's final posting was as Bandmaster aboard the cruiser Dorsetshire from 19 November 1932. Dorsetshire's band quickly became one of the Royal Navy's finest, and in 1934 it won the prestigious Band Shield. During his career Grace received three badges for Good Conduct. He was shore-pensioned on 1 June 1935, living with his wife Dorothy Louise at 16 St. Nicholas Road, Salisbury.

Sold with a fascinating archive, including:

(i)
The Silver Medal presented to Grace by the Worshipful Company of Musicians, the rim engraved: 'BANDMASTER PERCY FRANCIS GRACE. R.N. S.M.', the obverse bearing the Company's coat of arms above its motto 'HARMONY', surrounded by the legend: 'PRESENTED BY THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF MUSICIANS OF LONDON - FOUNDED 1604'; the reverse depicting a seated classical Muse, holding a cithara (lyre) upon her lap, 56mm. diameter, 90.5 grams, minor edge bruising and contact marks, very fine

(ii)
A Buckingham Palace certificate, signed by the Keeper of the Privy Purse, giving Grace 'Restricted Permission' to wear his Ethiopian Coronation Medal on 'all official occasions whilst in that country'. Dated 9 June 1931.

(iii)
An original menu from Haile Selassie's Coronation Dinner at the Palais Impérial on 2 November 1930.

(iv)
Grace's Certificate of Service, detailing his postings between 1910 and 1935.

(v)
An assortment of photographs and newspaper cuttings relating to the performance given by H.M.S. Effingham's Royal Marines band at Haile Selassie's Coronation, several of which specifically mention Grace.

Recommended viewing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJl0i_yvxQM


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Sold for
£2,500