The Collection of the late James C. Risk, C.V.O., F.S.A.

The mounted group of nine miniature dress medals worn by Surgeon Vice-Admiral Sir Cyril May, K.B.E., C.B., K.St.J., M.C., F.R.C.S., Medical Director General of the Navy, late Royal Garrison Artillery
Order of the British Empire (Military) silver-gilt and enamels; Order of the Bath (Military) silver-gilt and enamels; M.C., G.V.R.; Order of St. John, silver and enamel; British War and Victory Medals; Defence and War Medals; Coronation 1953, mounted court-style as worn, together with related ribbon pin bar, very fine (9) £100-£140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of the late James C. Risk, C.V.O., F.S.A..

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(Robert) Cyril May was born in London on 12 June 1897, the only child of Robert and Clara May. His father practised as a dental surgeon. After education at South Belgravia Preparatory School and Westminster School he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1915 and served in France from 1918 to the end of the war, commanding 139 Siege Battery in 1917. He was awarded the Military Cross in the following year and was demobilized with the rank of Major, then the youngest of that rank in the Army. After the war he entered Guy's Hospital and qualified in 1925, joining the Royal Naval medical service. By 1937 he was a Surgeon-Commander and serving in H.M.S. Sheffield, but in 1938 he became assistant to the medical director-general of the Royal Navy and served as such throughout the second world war. From 1946-49 he was senior medical officer in the surgical section of the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham, having been E.N.T. specialist there in 1931-34. He was Fleet medical officer to the Home Fleet 1949-50, and then in charge of the Royal Naval Hospital, Malta, 1951-56. He was promoted to Surgeon Rear-Admiral in 1953 and served as medical adviser to the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean. He was promoted to Surgeon Vice-Admiral in 1956 and served as medical director general to the Royal Navy until his retirement in 1960. He was Honorary Surgeon to the Queen from 1953-60 and received the K.B.E. in 1958, having previously been appointed O.B.E. in 1942 and C.B. in 1956. He was elected F.R.C.S. in 1957 and became Knight of the Order of St John in 1959. In his early years he had been keenly interested in cricket, lawn tennis, golf and association football. He married Mary Robertson in 1925. She died in 1977 and he was survived by his son when he died on 17 September 1979, aged 82 years.

See Lot 104 for his full-sized group of medals.