Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An interesting Baronet’s Badge group of four awarded to Sir Richard Harington, a Judge in the High Court of Justice in Bengal who later served as a Chief Petty Officer in the Anti-Aircraft Corps, R.N.V.R., 1914-16

Baronet’s Badge, of England, silver-gilt and enamel, hallmarks for London 1929, the reverse officially inscribed, ‘Harington of Ridlington, 1611’; British War Medal 1914-20 (A.A. 361 Sir R. Harington, C.P.O., R.N.V.R.); Delhi Durbar 1903; Delhi Durbar 1911, together with a set of related miniature dress medals for the last three, good very fine (7) £800-1000

Richard Harington was born in March 1861, the eldest son of the 11th Baronet, and was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. Called to the Bar in 1886, he practised on the Oxford Circuit prior to taking up appointment as a Puisne Judge in the High Court of Justice at Fort William in Bengal in 1899, where he served in a similar capacity until returning home in 1913 - and qualified for his Delhi Durbar Medals. He had, meanwhile, served in the London Brigade of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers 1880-91, and held command of the Artillery Company of the Calcutta Port Defence Volunteers 1900-09, experience that no doubt prompted him to volunteer for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the outbreak of hostilities in 1914, aged 53 years - he subsequently attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer in the Anti-Aircraft Corps, in which capacity he served until 1916. Onetime a J.P. and D.L. for Herefordshire, he was appointed High Sheriff of the same county in 1918 and died in February 1931, having succeeded to his father’s title back in 1911.