Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 532

An unusual 1936 Civil C.B.E., 1919 Military O.B.E. group of four awarded to Major F. R. E. Davis, Royal Air Force, Royal Naval Air Service and later Secretary, Great Western Railway Company

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 1st Type neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st Type breast Badge, silver-gilt; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major F. R. E. Davis. R.A.F.), good very fine (4)

C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1936:

'On the occasion of the centenary of the [Great Western] Railway.'

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

Francis Robert Edward Davis was born on 21 March 1887 and was educated at St Mark's, Chelsea. During the Great War he was commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 3 August 1915, having entered the service in July 1915. He served with the Royal Naval Air Service, being made Lieutenant Commander in December 1917 and ended as a Major (as of May 1918) in the Royal Air Force. In October 1916 he applied for a transfer to the Army (Military Railways), but this was withdrawn two months later. He travelled to the United States aboard the Baltic on 7 October 1917 in order to serve with the United States Naval Airship Station', also serving with the Naval Staff in Washington, being further attached to the Staff of Commodore Grant in February 1918. Returned to the United Kingdom, he served with the United States Navy at 30 Grosvernor Gardens, London. Davis had sat on the Air Department S.C.E. Committee since December 1916 and finished the Great War with a 'mention' to go with an O.B.E., with his Service Record also noting an Order of St Michael and St George, although no trace of this has been located.

Davis passed the Bar final examination in 1919 and was a Fellow of the Chartered Surveyors, Past President of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries. He was a Member of the Kensington Royal Borough Council. Having been awarded the C.B.E. for the centenary of the Great Western Railway, he returned to the fold and was Commanding Officer of the Kensington R.N.V.R. Sea Cadet Corps by 1942. Living at 37 Porchester Gate and a member of the Roehampton Club, Davis died on 12 July 1960; sold together with copied research.

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

Sold for
£650

Starting price
£400