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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 523

A Great War C.B.E. group of four awarded to Air Commodore H. V. Wells, Royal Air Force, late Staff Surgeon, Royal Naval Air Service

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s, 1st Type neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; 1914 Star, clasp (Staff Surgn. H. V. Wells, R.N. R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Ft. Surg. H. V. Wells. R.N.), the Trio mounted as worn, good very fine (4)

C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

Hardy Vesey Wells was born at Bedford on 30 January 1877 and was educated at Bedford School and St Mary's Hospital, London, qualifying M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. in 1900. Having joined the Royal Navy, he was appointed to the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps in 1912 and took Aero Certificate No. 490 on a Bristol biplane at The Naval School, Eastchurch on 24 May 1913.

During the Great War he saw active service and was transferred to the Royal Air Force in August 1918. During this period, he was primarily a Naval Surgeon but also co-wrote a paper for the British Medical Journal on the injuries and destructive effects of aeroplane bombs. He was Assistant Medical Administrator in Ireland in 1918 before being made a Wing Commander in August 1919. He was latterly Principal Medical Officer, Inland Area, 1920, Principal Medical Officer for the British Forces in Iraq, 1924-26 and was made an Honorary Physician to The King from 1925 until his retirement in 1934. A keen squash and tennis player, he died on 30 December 1936.

For his miniature dress Medals, please see Lot 622 and for his sword, please see Lot 620.

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Sold for
£900

Starting price
£700