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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 568

A well-documented Royal Household R.V.M. group of five awarded to D. W. Wise, Footman and Dining Room Assistant

The Royal Victorian Medal, silver, E.II.R., with its box of issue; Coronation 1953; Jubilee 1977; Royal Household Faithful Service Medal, E.II.R., with additional Thirty Years Bar, the suspension dated '1951-1971' (David William Wise), with its box of issue; Luxembourg, Grand Duchy, Medal of the Order of Civil and Military Merit of Adolphe of Nassau, bronze, good very fine, together with the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal of his father (Thomas R. Wise) (6)

R.V.M. London Gazette 1 January 1974.

David William Wise was born at Ash, Sevenoaks, Kent on 26 August 1935 and entered the Royal Household in 1951 and served for some thirty years as a Footman, Dining Room Assistant and latterly in 'F' Branch of the Household. He travelled with The Queen for the Royal Visit to Australia in 1954 and Canada in 1959 and was also involved in the visit of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg in September 1972. Wise retired from Royal Service after thirty years, on 30 June 1981 on medical grounds. Wise died - the result of a drug overdose - on 27 October 1986. M. T. Parker, Assistant to the Master of the Household wrote to his parents:

'What particularly struck me about David was the cheerful and brave approach he had to his illness, which was a fine example to us all.'

Sold together with the following archive of original material:

(i)
Bestowal documents and forward letters for all his awards, besides his riband bar.

(ii)
Portrait photograph and Royal Household Social Club Buckingham Palace 19 December 1951 programme.

(iii)
His security pass and letter related to the 1959 Visit to Canada, besides pass holder for the 1954 Australian visit.

(iv)
Birthday telegram from Balmoral, a re-assembled letter from Mark Phillips, besides a number of 'circular' letters of thanks for various wedding presents etc.

(v)
Printed Christmas and New Years Best wishes cards from The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh (10).

(vi)
Telegram from the Admiralty to Britannia to confirm 'DAVID WISE PROGRESSING WELL. SENDS REGARDS TO FRIENDS ON BOARD' 25 January 1957.

(vii)
Letter and confirmation of all those who made contributions to his retirement present.

(viii)
A pair of packs of playing cards, in a leatherette box, the lid embossed with the GVIR cypher.

For his miniature dress Medals, please see Lot 624.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£900