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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 843

(x) A pair of awards belonging to His Excellency Sir J. Le Rougetel, K.C.M.G., M.C. and Bar, a notable and distinguished British diplomat who held appointments in Tokyo, Pekin, Moscow and Tehran before becoming British Ambassador to Belgium

Cambridge University Sports Prize Bronze Medal, by Peters, Cambridge, the obverse bearing the university arms with legend 'UNIVERSITAS CANTABRIGIENSIS', the reverse featuring the motto 'Creber Utraque Manu' at centre surrounded by a laurel wreath, 51mm, bronze, the rim engraved 'J. H. Le Rougetel. Nov. 27. 1919.', in Munsey & Co., Cambridge box of issue; Belgium, Kingdom, Chamber of Commerce and Industry commemorative medallion by Fisch, Brussels, the obverse bearing the classical profile of Mercury alongside the Royal Arms of Belgium, the reverse engraved 'A S. E. SIR JOHN LE ROUGETEL, K.C.M.G., M.C., AMBASSADOR DE SA MAJESTE BRITANNIQUE', 71mm, bronze, in velvet-lined fitted leather box of issue, good very fine (2)

[M.C.] London Gazette 18 July 1917:

'For conspicuous gallantry and resource in reconnoitring and placing his guns in forward positions under heavy artillery fire. It was entirely due to his devotion that after they had been buried and put out of action they were at once replaced and the front covered.'

[Bar to M.C.] London Gazette 11 January 1919:

'He was in charge of three sections of guns, with which he accompanied the assaulting infantry, and sited all his guns in forward positions, whence he gave effective support to the attack. During two days' hard fighting he displayed great courage and devotion to duty, and his untiring energy was a fine example to the men.'

John Helier Le Rougetel was born at Toxeth Park, Liverpool on 19 June 1894. Educated at Rossall School and Magdalene College, Cambridge, he was commissioned into the 3rd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment in August 1914. He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry while attached to the 47th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (London Gazette, 18 July 1917), later receiving a Bar to his M.C. He joined the Foreign Office in 1920, and served in postings to Vienna, Budapest, Ottawa, Tokyo, Pekin, The Hague, Bucharest, Moscow and Shanghai. Appointed a First Secretary of the Foreign Office in 1930, he was taken prisoner by the Japanese at Shanghai in December 1941. On repatriation he was made Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. From 1944 to 1946 he was Political Representative in Romania, before receiving his first ambassadorial posting to Tehran in 1946. He later served as British Ambassador to Belgium (1950-51) and as High Commissioner to South Africa (1951-55), receiving elevation to K.C.M.G. He retired in 1955, and died in Winchester, Hampshire on 3 January 1975.


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Sold for
£45

Starting price
£30