Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: Lieutenant (later Sir) Frederick Hindle, British Red Cross & Order of St John of Jerusalem, with whom he served throughout the Great War as a Volunteer Motor Ambulance Driver, gaining the award of the French Legion d’Honneur and Croix de Guerre

1914 Star, with copy clasp (B.R.C.S. & O.St J.J.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.); French Legion d’Honneur, 5th Class, Chevalier’s breast Badge; French Croix de Guerre 1914-1916, with two palms and three silver stars on ribbon, enamel damage to fourth medal, otherwise nearly very fine and better (5) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Fine Collection of Medals to 'Old Contemptibles' formed by Major Bob Keay.

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Legion d’Honneur London Gazette 7 June 1919 (Temporary Honorary Lieutenant, Special List).

Sir Frederick Hindle volunteered for service on the outbreak of the Great War, aged 37 and was employed as a chauffeur in the Motor Department at Merville from 12 September 1914 to February 1919. Although his Croix de Guerre does not appear in the London Gazette it is confirmed on his B.R.C.S. index card which states: ‘French Croix de Guerre, 2 palms and 3 silver stars.’ A letter from the B.R.C.S. accompanying the lot additionally states: ‘Merville had been the Headquarters of the No. 2 Motor Ambulance Convoy for some years and had seen much of the war casualties. The convoy remained in the town until it was captured by the enemy in the Spring of 1918.’

After the war Sir Frederick was for many years a prominent figure in the Liberal Party at Darwen, Lancashire and from 1941-45 held the post of Deputy Regional Commissioner for Civil Defence in the North Western Region. He was created a Knight in 1943 and died ten years later in April 1953.