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An Inter-War M.V.O. Group of Eleven to Captain R.G. Bowes-Lyon, Royal Navy, The Royal Victorian Order, Member's (M.V.O.) Fourth Class breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, officially numbered '1052' on reverse; 1914-15 Star (S. Lt., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp 'North Africa 1942-43'; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaf; Coronation 1937, good very fine or better, mounted as worn (11)

Details
An Inter-War M.V.O. Group of Eleven to Captain R.G. Bowes-Lyon, Royal Navy, The Royal Victorian Order, Member's (M.V.O.) Fourth Class breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, officially numbered '1052' on reverse; 1914-15 Star (S. Lt., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp 'North Africa 1942-43'; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaf; Coronation 1937, good very fine or better, mounted as worn (11)
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

M.V.O. London Gazette 16.2.1925. For services as an Equerry to H.R.H. Prince George.

Mention in Despatches London Gazette 1.1.1944.

Captain Ronald George "Ronnie" Bowes-Lyon, M.V.O., was born in 1893, the youngest son of the Hon. Francis Bowes-Lyon, J.P., D.L. and Lady Anne Lindsay, daughter of the 25th Earl of Crawford and Balcarres - he was a grandson of the 13th Earl of Strathmore and a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Educated at Summerfields, Oxford and the Royal Naval Colleges Osborne and Dartmouth, he was advanced to Sub. Lieutenant on the eve of the Great War and served in the
Battleship H.M.S. Agamemnon in the Dardanelles.

Inter-War appointments included a stint as Equerry to H.R.H. Prince George between 1923-25, services that resulted in the award of an M.V.O., and later, as a specialist in navigation, Bowes-Lyon was appointed Navigating Officer to the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert in 1929, in which year he was advanced to Commander. He also served as Fleet Navigating Officer in the East Indies between 1932-35 and was advanced to Captain on assuming command of the Dockyard at Malta in 1936.

On the renewal of hostilities, Bowes-Lyon was brought home to take up
appointment as Director of Navigation at the Admiralty, but in August 1942 returned to sea as Captain of the 'Cruiser Minelayer' Adventure, which ship won the Battle Honour 'Malta Convoys 1942'. He was Mentioned in Despatches.

A 'quiet and great man', who possessed that rare quality of 'real goodness of heart and kindness', Bowes-Lyon retired in 1947 while serving as Director of Welfare at the Admiralty and died, aged 67 years, in April 1960.