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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 450

An Order of St John, 1945 K.P.M. and Order of Orange-Nassau group of nine awarded to Chief Constable W. F. Thomas, Cardiff City Police, late Private, Devonshire Regiment

The Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem, breast Badge, silver and enamel; King's Police Medal, G.VI.R. (William F. Thomas, Supdt.. Cardiff City Police); British War and Victory Medals (70871 Pte. W. F. Thomas. Devon. R.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Police Long Service, G.VI.R. (William F. Thomas Asst. Ch. Const.); Netherlands, Kingdom, Order of Orange-Nassau, Civil Division breast Badge, silver and enamel, with case of issue, centres to the last re-affixed, very fine (9)

K.P.M. as per General Order No. 13 dated 13 June 1945.

Order of Orange-Nassau as per General Order No. 2 dated 11 February 1948:

'For services rendered to the Netherlands Government authorities whilst he was Regional Police Staff Officer at the Wales Civil Defence HQ during the War.'

William Francis Thomas was born on 3 September 1899 at Aberdare, Glamorgan, the son of the Head Gardener at Cyfarthfa Castle. Young Thomas was apprenticed to the gardening staff at Belvoir Castle by the time of the Great War. During that conflict he served with the 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment and 2/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

Returned to Wales, applied to join the Cardiff City Police on 11 January 1921 and was appointed on 22 November 1922. He served with distinction for over three decades in the Cardiff City Police and eventually rose to Chief Constable by the 1950's. In that period he saw the coronation of two monarchs, was present during the devastating Cardiff Blitz and also rendered valuable service to the Royal Family of the Netherlands. Besides this, he played a central role in Royal Visits - including the Coronation Visit of The Queen in 1953 - and was Chairman of the Traffic Committee during the 6th British Empire & Commonwealth Games, which were held in Wales in 1958. Thomas died on 13 October 1963 and had he lived, it seems highly plausible that he would have been Knighted for his remarkable period of service to the City of Cardiff.

Sold together with the following archive of material:

(i)
British Empire & Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Certificate of Gratitude, together with his Chairman's Badge and Opening Ceremony programme.

(ii)
A fascinating archive of letters, including from Harold Macmillan (after his visit in July 1960) and James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff (upon the death of Thomas).

(iii)
Programme of the Coronation Visit of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, 9 July 1953.

(iv)
City of Cardiff Lodge masonic Medal, Royal Masonic Benevolent Medal and silver prize Medal.

(v)
A selection of related photographs and detailed copied research.

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Sold for
£1,100

Starting price
£580