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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 702

The mounted group of three miniature dress medals worn by Surgeon Vice-Admiral Sir G. Milton-Thompson, Royal Navy

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division (K.B.E.), breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Order of St. John of Jerusalem, K.St.J., breast Badge in silver-gilt and enamel; Service Medal of the Order of St. John, with one extra service bar, mounted Court-style for wear, good very fine (3)

Godfrey Milton-Thompson was born in Birkenhead in 1930, he was educated at Eastbourne College, Queen's College, Cambridge and St. Thomas' Hospital, qualifying in Medicine in 1954. He joined the Royal Naval Medical Service in 1955 and served in Malta and Chatham, before being seconded to Liverpool to train as a physician with a special interest in gastroenterology. In 1961 he joined the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth, as specialist in Medicine. He became a Consultant in 1966, following a further spell in Malta. In the late 1960's he worked as a Research Fellow at St. Mark's Hospital and established a productive collaboration with George Misiewicz a distinguished consultant at the Central Middlesex Hospital. On his return to RNH Plymouth they embarked on a research programme to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of H2-receptor antagonists, a family of gastric anti-secretory drugs, newly discovered by Sir James Black, which revolutionised the management of acid dyspeptic disorders. He was appointed to the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar as Professor of Naval Medicine in 1975 and served in this role for five years. In 1980 he moved to London as Deputy Medical Director General in the rank of Surgeon Commodore. There he played a key role in organising the medical support for land and sea forces in the Falkland Islands Campaign. He was promoted Rear-Admiral in 1984 and became Medical Director General Navy in 1985. in 1986 he was appointed Surgeon General and was knighted in 1988.

He retired in 1990 and, following a spell as Chairman of the Cornwall Community Healthcare Trust, he became Warden of St. Katherine's House in Wantage, where he used his extensive network of contacts to raise £1.3M to improve the fabric of this residential home, run by the Anglican Community of St. Mary's. He was an active and distinguished Member of the Order of St. John. As Hospitaller for the Order he was responsible for the St. John Opthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem and served on the St John Council for Cornwall. Until his last illness he was National Chairman of the St. John Fellowship.

Godfrey will be remembered for many things; his distinguished appearance, urbane manner and charming friendship high amongst them. In the gastroenterology community he was responsible for giving the Royal Naval Medical Service an international reputation for research into the management of acid peptic disorders. Those who trained under him or worked with him in research are for ever indebted to his leadership, support and influence, which resulted in many achieving senior academic appointments in the U.K. and abroad. He was responsible for steering the Royal Naval Medical Service through very difficult times in the 1980's, when he fought to retain its facilities, aware of the important role it played, both in peace time and in war, as demonstrated by the Falklands Conflict, Iraq wars, and Afghanistan. Many service hospitals closed after his retirement but he left a reputation of excellence in clinical care and research, which persists to this day..

He retired as Surgeon General in 1990 after 35 years dedicated service to the Royal Navy and died in 2012.

Sold with his business card with his address in Cornwall, riband bar.

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Sold for
£160

Starting price
£40