Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine group of orders and medals awarded to Admiral Sir Campbell Tait, K.C.B., M.V.O., Royal Navy, Governor of Southern Rhodesia, 1945-46

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. (Military) Knight Commander’s set of insignia, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knight of Justice set of insignia, neck badge, 51 x 51mm., silver and enamel; breast star, 69 x 69mm., silver and enamel; The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 4th Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially numbered, ‘1424’; 1914-15 Star (Lt. Cdr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Cdr., R.N.); Defence and War Medals, unnamed; Jubilee 1935, unnamed; Coronation 1937, unnamed, medals mounted for display; Netherlands, Order of Orange Nassau, 2nd Class set of insignia by Casa Condecoracoes, Lisbon, neck badge with swords, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; breast star with swords, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, pin clasp bent, all mounted for display on a black velvet covered board (Dutch star loose), generally nearly extremely fine (14) £3000-3500

William Eric Campbell Tait was born in Morice Town, Devon on 12 August 1886, the son of Deputy Surgeon-General William Tait, M.B., R.N. of Kirknewton, Alverstoke, Hampshire. He entered the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in 1902 and subsequently received a commission in the Royal Navy. As a Lieutenant-Commander he served throughout the Great War and was awarded the M.V.O. 4th Class in 1917. During 1919-21 he served aboard the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert. Promoted to Commander in 1921, he served on H.M.S. Hawkins, flagship of the China Station, 1921-23. Promoted to Captain in 1926, he commanded H.M.S. Dragon in the Mediterranean Station during 1928 and then H.M. Ships Capetown and Delhi on the American Station, 1929-31. He served as Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence at the Admiralty, 1932-33, after which he was on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, China, 1933-34. Tait then commanded H.M.S. Shropshire, 1934-37. He was then appointed Commodore 2nd Class in charge of the R.N. Barracks at Portsmouth, 1937-39. In 1938 he was promoted to Rear-Admiral and appointed A.D.C. to the King. In 1940 he was awarded the C.B. and promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1941. After serving as Director of Personal Services at the Admiralty, Tait served as Commander-in-Chief of the South Atlantic Station, 1942-44. In this capacity he headed the Combined Headquarters based in Cape Town. In 1943 he was awarded the K.C.B. and in 1945 the Order of Orange Nassau 2nd Class. Attaining the rank of Admiral in 1945, Tait served as Governor of Southern Rhodesia, February 1945-February 1946. He died at Government House, Salisbury on 17 July 1946.

With two photographs of Tait in Royal Naval uniform wearing his M.V.O. and Great War medals - both water damaged, one badly damaged. Also with a badly water damaged presentation certificate of welcome from the Sea Cadet Movement of Southern Rhodesia. Also with riband bars and named W.W.2 medal forwarding slip.