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Auction: 20003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 245

A post-war G.B.E., K.C.M.G. group of eight awarded to Sir C. Warner, British Ambassador to Belgium, late Royal Fusiliers: in writing a tribute in The Times, Sir Reginald Leeper described him as ’one of the most English Englishmen I can think of … he proved himself one of the best Ambassadors in the Foreign Service’

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, G.B.E. (Civil) Knight Grand Cross, 2nd type set of Insignia, comprising sash Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, with half-sash for wearing, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, (K.C.M.G.) Knight Commander’s set of Insignia, comprising neck Badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamel, breast star, silver, silver-gilt, gold and enamel appliqué centre, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. C. F. A. Warner, R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. C. F. A. Warner); Coronation 1953, minor enamel damage to the K.C.M.G. badge, otherwise good very fine (8)

G.B.E. London Gazette 2 January 1956.

K.C.M.G. London Gazette 7 June 1951.

Christopher Frederick Ashton Warner was born in January 1895, the son of Frederick Ashton Warner, F.R.C.S., and was educated at Winchester and Magdalen College, Oxford.

Appointed to a commission in October 1914, he was embarked for France as a Lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers in the following year, and was advanced to the temporary rank of Captain in July 1916.

Entering the Foreign Service in 1920, he became Second Secretary in 1923, the same year in which he was transferred to Constantinople. Having then served at Teheran 1925-28, he returned home to an appointment in the Foreign Office, where he was made First Secretary in 1930 and Acting Counsellor in 1940. At the end of the following year, he was appointed to take charge of the Mission to the Norwegian Government in London, in which capacity he was promoted Counsellor and awarded the C.M.G. (London Gazette 2 June 1943, refers).

Immediately after the War, Warner became Assistant Under-Secretary of State (Political) at the Foreign Office, prior to taking up his final appointment as H.M. Ambassador to Belgium 1951-55. He was created K.C.M.G. in the former year and G.B.E. on is retirement. Sir Christopher died in January 1957.

Sold together with the following commemorative awards:

(i) City of Brussels, bronze, 59mm., the reverse engraved, ‘A.S.E. Sir Christopher Warner, K.C.M.G., Ambassadeur de Grande Bretagne a Bruxelles, 17.3.1953’, in fitted case of issue.

(ii) State of Gent, bronze, 68mm., the reverse engraved, ‘Z. Exc. Sir Christopher Warner, K.C.M.G., Ambassadeur van Groot-Britannie, 15.vii.1954’, in fitted case of issue with gilt Arms of Gent to lid.

(iii) Fraternity of Agent Parachutists, bronze, 65mm. by 108mm., the reverse engraved, ‘Sir Christopher Warner, K.C.M.G., 5.11.1954’.

(iv) Province of Liege, bronze-gilt, 100mm., the reverse engraved, ‘En Homme a Son Excellence Sir Christopher F. A. Warner, K.C.M.G., Ambassadeur de Grande-Bretagne en Belgique, Le 2 Decembre 1954’, in fitted case of issue.

(v) Medal for Inter-Union of Power Stations of Brabant, bronze, 70mm., unnamed, in fitted case of issue.

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Sold for
£3,800

Starting price
£3000