Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The remarkable Great War medal group of seventeen awarded to Colonel Bernard Ramsden James, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, late East Surrey Regiment

1914 Star, with (loose) clasp (Lt. Col., R. War. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Bt. Col.); Coronation 1902, silver; Coronation 1911, silver, unnamed, mounted as worn

Belgium, Order of Leopold I, Officer’s breast badge with swords, silver-gilt and enamel, rosette on ribbon, in case of issue, enamel damage to obverse centre

China, Order of the Striped Tiger, 3rd Class neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck ribbon, in lacquer case of issue

Ethiopia, Order of the Star of Ethiopia, 3rd Class neck badge, silver-gilt, centre set with a red paste ‘stone’, with neck ribbon, in damaged case of issue

France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, gold and enamel, rosette on ribbon, in Aucoc, Paris case of issue; Croix de Guerre 1914-1917

Greece, Royal Order of the George I, Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel

Italy, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, Officer’s breast badge, gold and enamel, rosette on ribbon

Japan, Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with red cabochon centre, with neck cravat complete with metal fittings

Portugal, Republic, Military Order of Aviz, Grand Officer’s set of insignia, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamel

Romania, Order of the Star, 1st type, Commander’s neck badge with swords, silver-gilt and enamel, in damaged Lemaitre, Paris case of issue

Serbia, Order of the White Eagle, 2nd type, 3rd Class neck badge with swords, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck cravat, in Bertrand, Paris case of issue, damage to blue enamel pendalia,which is partially detached and become twisted in relation to the body of the badge

Thailand, Order of the Crown, 2nd type, 2nd Class set of insignia, neck badge and breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, in Benson, London case of issue, generally good very fine (lot) £3000-3500

Bernard Ramsden James was born on 26 February 1864, the 4th son of John Henry James, J.P., of Kingswood, Watford, Hertfordshire. He was educated at Rugby and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant into the East Surrey Regiment on 9 September 1882 and promoted to Captain in March 1889. He was an Army Interpreter in French, German, Italian, Danish and Hindustani. Served as an Instructor at the Royal Military College, September 1893-October 1899; D.A.A.G. (Intell) H.Q. of Army, October-November 1899; Staff Captain and Temporary D.A.A.G. (Intell) H.Q. of Army, November 1899-January 1901; and Staff Captain (Intell) H.Q. of Army, January 1901-June 1903. During 1902 he went on a Special Mission to the Sultan of Morocco with Sir Arthur Nicholson. In February 1903 he was promoted to Major in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Served as D.A.Q.M.G. (Intell) H.Q. of Army, July 1903-November 1904, and was appointed Military Attaché (General Staff Officer) at Washington and Mexico, January 1907-February 1911; receiving the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1911. Lieutenant-Colonel James retired from the Army in October 1911.

Recalled from the Reserve of Officers for service in the Great War, he was attached to the General Staff at G.H.Q. in France to be in charge of foreign attachés. He served in France and Belgium, 5 August 1914-16 July 1917. As such, for his many and onerous duties he was awarded by his own Sovereign, the 1914 Star with clasp, the British War and Victory Medals, was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 5 July 1919) and received the brevet of Colonel.

From the Allied Nations he received a plethora of orders and decorations: Russia, Order of St. Stanislaus, 2nd Class (London Gazette 25 November 1916); Italy, Order of the Crown, Officer (London Gazette 26 May 1917); Romania, Order of the Star, Commander with Swords (London Gazette 21 June 1917); Belgium, Order of Leopold I, Officer with Swords (London Gazette 26 July 1917); Russia, Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd Class with Swords (London Gazette 14 January 1918); Belgium, Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 11 March 1918); Serbia, Order of the White Eagle, 3rd Class with Swords (London Gazette 10 September 1918); Thailand, Order of the Crown, Grand Officer (London Gazette 9 November 1918); Portugal, Military Order of Aviz, Commander (London Gazette 7 October 1919); France, Legion of Honour, Officer (London Gazette 26 November 1919); China, Order of the Striped Tiger, 3rd Class (London Gazette 17 February 1920) and Greece, Royal Order of George I, Commander (London Gazette 7 May 1920). In addition to the above, Colonel James was also awarded the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun 3rd Class, which he received in 1918 and the Ethiopian Order of the Star 3rd Class, which he received in 1902 from Ras Makonnen who was in England for the coronation.

Latterly living at Fingest Grove, High Wycombe; Colonel James died on 30 April 1938.

Sold with a quantity of original papers, including: bestowal documents for the Belgian, Order of Leopold I, with associated letter; Belgian Croix de Guerre, with associated letter; Chinese, Order of the Striped Tiger; French, Legion of Honour; Greek Royal Order of George I; Italian, Order of the Crown; Japanese, Order of the Rising Sun; Portuguese, Military Order of Aviz; Romanian, Order of the Star; Serbian, Order of the White Eagle; Thai, Order of the Crown, in envelope, with associated translation. Also with a number of letters, including one dated 14 December 1917, in which he writes of his surprise that ‘a 3rd Class Vladimir Order turned up yesterday’ and ‘Who am I to thank for the Vladimir? .... shall I write a pleasant letter to Trotski ...’

With copied photographs (3) of James with foreign dignitaries and attachés and one of James in uniform wearing the Coronation 1902 and Ethiopian Order; also with copied service details and m.i.c.