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Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 219

The 1953 Order of St John, 1952 O.B.E. group of nine awarded to 'Mr Horsham' Alderman D. Bryce, Army Service Corps, attached 256th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers

Having served on the Western Front as a motor lorry driver, he became Vice-President of the Horsham British Legion, latterly Sub-Controller in the Civil Defence and a member of both the Royal Observer Corps and Special Constabulary

Bryce was appointed the County Commissioner for the Saint John Ambulance Brigade in 1940 and he was a member of the Horsham Urban Council from 1921-48, a Sussex County Councillor from 1932, he stayed on the Council for 30 years

The Most Venerable Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knight of Justice set of Insignia, by Spink & Son, comprising neck Badge, silver and enamel; Star, silver and enamel, with neck riband and in fitted case of issue; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Officer's (O.B.E.) Civil Division, 2nd type breast Badge, silver-gilt; British War and Victory Medals (M-401366 Pte. D. Bryce. A.S.C.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Special Constabulary Long Service, G.V.R., Coinage bust (David Bryce); Service Medal of the Order of St. John, with two Additional Award Bars (20772 Cty/Commr. D. Bryce. Sussex Cty. 1940), mounted court-style as worn where applicable, very fine (9)

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1952:

'For public services in West Sussex.'

David Bryce was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, but later moved with his father to Horsham, Sussex, where his father set up Bryce's furniture and drapery firm in East Street, with and both David and his brother Andrew joining the family firm. Having been educated at Collyer's School he was working at the family shop when called up for active service 24 April 1918, having originally enlisted under the Military Services Act on 1 October 1916. He had already made a name for himself in the town, being a founder member of the Horsham Young Men's Christian Association in 1897 and a keen member of the Horsham Caledonian Society with whom he had won Second Prize in the Sword Dance competition in 1913, and also a recipient of the First Prize Medal for the Horsham Y.M.C.A. Harriers Veterans' Race in 1913.

Posted to the 286th Motor Transport Company on 24 April 1918, he passed his heavy lorry drivers course, and then saw service out on the Western Front from 3 June 1918 as a motor transport driver, being initially posted to 2nd Base Motor Transport Depot at Calais, on 7 June 1918 he found himself attached as a lorry driver to the 256th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, with whom he served for the rest of the war.

Bryce was admitted to the 43rd Casualty Clearing Station suffering from a hernia on 3 February 1919 and was then moved to the 6th General Hospital at Rouen on 16 February 1919. Invalided home on 3 March 1919, he was discharged on 27 May 1919 to the Class Z Army Reserve. He was also a life member of the Horsham British Legion and later became Vice-President.

On his return from active service, Bryce once again immersed himself in the local community of Horsham, joining the Sussex Police Special Constabulary as a Special Constable. He became an Urban Councillor in 1921, and served as such through to 1948, being a member of every committee, twice Chairman of the Council and Chairman of both the finance and selection committees.

Bryce was also a Sussex County Councillor from 1932, and stayed on the council for 30 years, being a County Alderman for the last 18 years. He was a Chairman of the Sussex County Welfare Committee for his last 15 years, and it was for this that he would be largely remembered by the County. As his obituary would state:

'Welfare and health were his particular interests in public work. For nearly 30 years he was a member of the Graylingwell Hospital Management Committee and its finance chairman for 14 years. He was also a member of the Redhill, Earlswood, and Forest hospitals management committees, being chairman of the latter from 1948 to 1962. For 20 years he was a member of the Horsham Hospital Committee.'

For many years he was a member of the West Sussex Executive Council of which he was once vice-chairman and chairman of both the finance committee and selection committee.

In this capacity he was awarded both the Jubilee Medal 1935 and the Coronation Medal 1937, the latter as a newly appointed Alderman, and was appointed O.B.E. in 1952, being invested at Buckingham Palace on 5 May 1952. Amongst those who congratulated him personally was Edwina Mountbatten of Burma in her role as head of the St John Nursing Corps and Divisions.

He was a founder member of the Horsham Division of the St John Ambulance Brigade, and rose through the ranks to become Commissioner for Sussex in 1940, in which year he was awarded the Service Medal of the Order of St John, to which he later gained two Additional Award Bars. The Medal itself is named to him in the extremely rare rank of 'County Commissioner'. Having already been appointed a Service Brother of The Order of St John, Bryce was then appointed a Commander, this being presented to him in an investiture held at Mansion House on 21 October 1948, and he was ultimately appointed a Knight of Justice, being invested at Buckingham Palace on 10 July 1953.

During the Second World War Bryce had served as a Sub-Controller for the Horsham urban and rural districts in the Civil Defence, and been a member of both the Royal Observer Corps and the Special Constabulary.

Bryce was also a founder member of the Old Collyerians Association, the association of his old school, of whom he became the Chairman of the school governors, and he was also a chairman of the Horsham Building Society and three times president of the Horsham Chamber of Trade, he 'became a legend in his own lifetime' according to his obituary. He was associated with the firm of credit traders for over 70 years, and became a consultant.

A Freemason, Bryce was a founder member of the Richard Collyer Lodge and later became Worshipful Master of the March and Darnley Lodge. He was a first class examiner of the Royal Life Saving Society, of which he was made a Life Governor in 1959.

His wife died in September 1966, they having never had children. As one person recollected in his obituary:

'Although an eminent public figure, Mr. Bryce was a rather shy person with a wry sense of humour. A few years ago he asked a member of this paper's staff how long he had been in Horsham. On being told that it was ten years Mr Bryce said, 'You have only another ten years to go before you are accepted. "But I was born in Horsham," said the relative newcomer. "In that case," smiled Mr Bryce, "you have five years dispensation." Which is not bad for a Scot who was more West Sussex than many Sussex people and who became known as "Mr. Horsham".

Bryce died on 22 January 1972, his last known address at Sandy Croft, Chesworth Close, and on his death, the local newspaper published an article details his life, titled 'Horsham's 'grand old man' dies.' The David Bryce old people's club was named after him, and Horsham Urban Council named a new road Bryce Close, in recognition of his services to the town.

Sold together with the following quantity of original items, documents and ephemera:

(i)
Prime Minister's Office 10 Downing Street headed letter informing Bryce of the Prime Minister's intention to recommend him for an appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the forthcoming New Years Honours list, inscribed to 'Alderman David Bryce, J.P.', dated 30 November 1951. This with the original envelope addressed to: 'Alderman David Bryce, J.P., Sandycroft, Chesworth Close, Horsham, Sussex.'

(ii)
Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood forwarding letter for the Warrant of Appointment to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, inscribed to: 'Alderman David Bryce, O.B.E., J.P.'

(iii)
Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood letter informing Bryce on the upcoming investiture to be held on 5 May 1952, dated 22 February 1952, this letter is printed with a black border signifying the death of King George VI. This with the original envelope addressed to: 'Alderman David Bryce, Esq., O.B.E., J.P., Sandycroft, Chesworth Close, Horsham, Sussex.'

(iv)
Two telegrams from 2 January 1952 congratulating Bryce on his appointment to the Order of the British Empire, one being from Edwina Mountbatten of Burma in her role as head of the St John Nursing Corps and Divisions.

(v)
Statutes of 1948 for the Order of the British Empire, the cover inscribed 'David Bryce'.

(vi)
Award Certificate for the Jubilee Medal 1935, awarded to: 'David Bryce'.

(vii)
Award Certificate for the Coronation Medal 1937, awarded to: 'David Bryce, Assistant Commissioner, The St. John Ambulance Brigade'.

(viii)
Investiture Ticket to attend for his appointment within the Order of St John, together with program for the Reception of Bailiffs Grand Cross and Knights - Investiture of Other Grades in the Order and presentation of Life Saving Medals and Special Votes of Thanks on Vellum by His Royal Highness the Grand Prior at Buckingham Palace on 10th July 1953, this containing notification of David Bryce's appointment as a Knight of Justice.

(ix)

Horsham Y.M.C.A. Harriers Veterans' Race First Prize Medal, obverse with engraved date '1913', silver-gilt, hallmarks for Birmingham with date letter 'n' for 1912, reverse engraved to 'David Bryce' and Horsham Caledonian Society Sword Dance Second Prize Medal for 1913, silver-gilt, hallmarks for Birmingham with date letter 'e' for 1904, reverse engraved to 'David Bryce'.

(x)
Officer's cap badge for the St John Ambulance Association, together with a similar lapel badge, and other related insignia, together with other related insignia, letters and photographs.

For his miniature dress Medals, please see Lot 337.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£480