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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 481

A rare R.V.M. pair awarded to Sergeant-Major G. Wise, King's Royal Rifle Corps - the doting Personal Soldier-Servant to His Royal Highness Major Prince Christian-Victor of Schleswig-Holstein G.C.B., G.C.V.O., D.S.O., K.St.J., the favourite grandchild of Queen Victoria

Royal Victorian Medal, V.R., silver; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing's Nek, Belfast (8425 Pte. G. Wise, 4th K.R.R.C.), clasp back-straps adapted for mounting, very fine (2)

R.V.M. presented by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 30 November 1900 (The Geneological Magazine Vol. IV, p417, refers).

Wise and Prince Christian-Victor the only members of the 4th Battalion to be in receipt of the Queen's Medal & these 6 clasps.

George Wise was born on Warfield, Windsor on 24 December 1871 and served as Personal Soldier-Servant to Prince Christian-Victor from 1892. The Prince was the son of Princess Helena, third daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and was the favourite grandchild of Queen Victoria. He holds the honour of being the only member of the Royal Family to have played First Class Cricket. Entering the King's Royal Rifles Corps in 1888, he served with the 4th Battalion in South Africa, with Wise in close order. The pair went out on the Braemar Castle on 6 October 1899. His master tragically died of enteric fever at Pretoria on 29 October 1900, aged just 33. When the Medal roll was drawn up in July 1901, Wise was entered on a supplementary roll noting:

'This private soldier servant to Prince Christian-Victor was brought out in 1900 and is now at Cumberland Lodge Windsor.'

Wise was clearly well-respected by the Schleswig-Holstein's, for he was taken into the household of Princess Marie Louise. She latterly penned a letter of recommendation for him:

'George Wise was personal servant to the late Prince Christian Victor for 8 years...his devotion to my brother was decorated personally by HM the late Queen Victoria...After my brothers death, he became my Steward and Sec: in charge of all my household a/cs and my entire household. He was with me from 1900 to 1916...I can not recommend him too highly, & is absolutely fitted for any position of trust.'

Wise served during the Great War with the Army Service Corps Expeditionary Force Canteens in Spring 1917, being Sergeant-Major of an Officers' Club at Dieppe. He served just 77 days before being discharged with a Pair.

Wise died at Hadley Gardens, Chiswick on 27 February 1963. His diary was used in part for the book Christian Victor - The Story of a Young Soldier.

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Sold for
£1,500

Starting price
£210