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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 473

The C.M.G. group of seven awarded to Vice-Admiral R. A. Nugent, Royal Navy, Assistant Director of Naval Intelligence 1916-18

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. R. A. Nugent, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R. A. Nugent. R.N.); France, Republic, Legion of Honour, breast Badge, with Rosette upon riband, gold and enamel, gold mark to obverse downward tassle; Japan, Empire, Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, red cabochon at centres; Russia, Imperial, Order of St. Anne, neck Badge, with Swords, silver-gilt Badge of Continental manufacture, silver mark to loop, 50mm, good very fine (7)

C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1918.

French Legion of Honour London Gazette 21 June 1918.

Japanese Order of Rising Sun London Gazette 8 March 1920.

Raymond Andrew Nugent was born on 25 February 1870 and entered the Royal Navy on 15 July 1883, was appointed Midshipman on 15 September 1885, being advanced Sub-Lieutenant on 14 September 1889, Lieutenant on 30 June 1892, Commander on 30 June 1903 and Captain on 30 June 1909. In November 1912, whilst aboard, a Court of Inquiry concluded that a coaling accident aboard Collingwood which resulted in the death of a Leading Signalman injured two others could not have occurred had proper supervision been exercised. In December 1912, he assumed command of Highflyer, before commanding Swiftsure from 25 April 1913. He had seen active service in China in 1900 (Medal) and in the Persian Gulf in 1914 (Medal & clasp).

During the Great War, he commanded Argonaut from August 1914, remaining with her until being ordered home in Amphitrite to assume command of the battleship Albemarle in June 1915. On the night of 6 June 1915, as Albemarle was traversing the Pentland Firth in company with Zealandia and Hibernia southward from Scapa Flow, a ferocious gale coupled with an ebb tide produced heavy seas. During the night Albemarle was struck by two massive waves, one of which carried away the fore-bridge and the roof of the conning-tower. Nugent was washed on to the upper deck, while an Officer and rating were lost overboard and drowned. A lucky escape indeed.

Nugent served as Assistant Director of Naval Intelligence Division, 30 September 1916-22 August 1918, during which he played a key role within Operation Dreadnought, the anti-U-Boat intelligence operation in the Baltic Sea. He was made Naval ADC to the King on 1 November 1919 and was made Rear-Admiral on 25 March 1920. Nugent was promoted Vice-Admiral on retirement on 24 November 1925 and died on 13 September 1959; sold together with his Vice-Admiral's shoulder boards, silver, bullion thread and his Cap Badge, besdies copied research.



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Sold for
£2,200

Starting price
£2200