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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 305

The rare Victoria Faithful Service Medal and Bar group of three awarded to Yeoman of the Ewry & Groom of the Great Chamber J. Martin, who served the Royal Household of Queen Victoria and King William IV for at least 65 years

Victoria Faithful Service Medal, with additional ‘10’ Year Bar, silver, the reverse officially inscribed, ‘To Mr John Martin, Yeoman of the Ewry, for faithful services to the Queen and her predecessor King William IV during 55 years, 1886’, edge embossed, ‘Presented by Queen Victoria 1872’, complete with original elaborate suspension and tartan ribbon; Jubilee 1887, clasp, 1897, silver issue; Coronation 1902, bronze issue, good very fine (3)

Ex-Tamplin Collection, 2008.

139 Medals awarded; this is the greatest period of service recorded on a Victorian Faithful Service Medal, only four others record 50 years or more.

John Martin was born during 1819 and was employed in the Royal Household in the following period, according to his statement given on 24 November 1885, at Buckingham Palace (now held in the Victoria Faithful Service Medal Register in the Royal Archives, Windsor:

'...employed in the Green Office from 1831 to 1837; was appointed Coal Porter in August 1837, Head Coal Porter in August 1839, and Yeoman of the Ewry on 1 October 1865. On 18 June 1881, he was appointed Groom of the Great Chamber in the Lord Chamberlain's Department.'

The ewry was responsible for the provision and storage of linen for the royal tables and, when originally established in 1660, to '...serve up water in the Silver Ewers after Dinner, whence the Office has its Name'. Martin was awarded the Medal in 1886, and added a Bar, which was affixed for him by Messrs. Wyon & Martin and acknowledged its receipt afterwards in a letter from Buckingham Palace dated 13 February 1896. He lived in Stanley Street, Pimlico, and latterly in Cornwall Road, St George's Square, where he died on 28 June 1903 with an estate of £5750 18s 11p; sold together with copied research.


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Sold for
£1,700

Starting price
£1000