Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War C.B.E. group of four awarded to Engineer Captain J. A. Richards, Royal Navy

The Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) 1st type neck badge; British War Medal (Eng. Capt., R.N.); Legion of Honour, 5th class breast badge, silver, gilt and enamels; Japan, Order of the Sacred Treasure, 3rd class neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, good very fine (4) £400-450

C.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 11 August 1919: ‘For valuable services in the Ministry of Munitions in connection with the control of output and supply of steel and iron tubes.’

Legion of Honour, Chevalier London Gazette 11 August 1919: ‘For distinguished services rendered during the war.’

Japan, Order of the Sacred Treasure, 3rd class London Gazette 8 March 1920.

John Arthur Richards was born in 1865 and educated at the Royal Naval Engineering School, H.M.S. Marlborough, and the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. He served as an Engineer Officer, R.N., at sea and in H.M. Dockyards, 1886-1909; was inspector of materials at boiler and tube works for all boilers of H.M. ships building by contract, 1909-14; controlled the iron and steel tube industry for war and other requirements for the Admiralty, Ministry of Munitions, and all other departments, 1915-16; M.I.N.A.; M.I. and S.I.; author of papers on tube making, and lectured officers of the Fleet and learned Societies on the manufacture of steel tubes. He died on 16 November 1949.