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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 217

Six: Chief Superintendent of Stores C. Tagliaferro, St. John Ambulance Brigade Malta, who was an original staff member of that organisation in Malta

1914-15 Star (Dr. C. Tagliaferro, St. J. A. Bde. Malta.); British War and Victory Medals (C. Tagliaferro, St. J. A. Bde. Malta.); Service Medal of the Order of St John (CPS. Store Kpr. C. Taglioferro (Malta CPS) S.J.A.B.O. 1922.); Messina Earthquake 1908; Italy, Red Cross Earthquake Medal 1908, contact wear throughout, heavy obverse scratches to B.W.M., heavy edge knocks to Messina Earthquake medal, Italian Red Cross no longer attached to riband, about very fine and better (6)

C. Tagliaferro was a foundational member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in Malta, with his name appearing on the minutes of the 5 April 1909 meeting in which the formation of a unit of the St. John Ambulance Brigade was proposed and seconded by Tagliaferro. He was on the first staff of the first unit of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in Malta as Superintendent of Stores.

His name is also one of ten listed in the Malta Government Gazette of 30 August 1917 indicating 'specially valuable service rendered to the Empire during the present war.' The citation described his services rendered: 'Held the position of Corps Secretary of St. John Ambulance Brigade in which capacity he was employed on the Staff of the Director of Medical Services and rendered services of no mean order in obtaining Civil aid to assist the Military when urgently required'. This citation is reproduced in the accompanying 'The St. John Ambulance Brigade Malta 1909-1969, Diamond Jubilee Souvenir Booklet', which also contains a photo of Dr Tagliaferro wearing his medals.

Tagliaferro also provided assistance in the aftermath of the disastrous earthquake at Messina in 1908, for which he earned the Messina Earthquake medal and the Italian Red Cross medal. His name appears in the Sunday Times 1988 article commemorating the 80th anniversary of the earthquake, which mentions him as a recipient of the Italian Red Cross for outstanding services rendered during the earthquake.

Sold together with copied research, including medal roll, Sunday Times article, Souvenir booklet, and photograph album of vintage postcards showing the damage caused by the Messina earthquake.


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Estimate
£400 to £600

Starting price
£320