Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The K.C.B., ‘Royal Yacht’ M.V.O. group of twelve awarded to Admiral the Hon. Sir V. A. Stanley, Royal Navy, who was Naval Attaché at St Petersburg 1905-08, and commended for services at Jutland when in command of H.M.S. Erin

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. (Military) Knight Commander’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge in silver-gilt and enamels, and breast star in silver with appliqué centre in gold and enamels, fitted with gold pin for wearing; The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 4th Class breast badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamels, the reverse officially numbered ‘229’; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, Alexandria 11th July (V. A. Stanley. Nav: Cad: R.N. H.M.S. “Monarch”); 1914-15 Star (Capt. V. A. Stanley, M.V.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (R. Adml. The Hon. V. A. Stanley.); Coronation 1911; France, Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge with rosette, gold and enamels; Khedive’s Star 1882, the last eight on original ‘cavalry’ style wearing bar; Greece, Order of the Redeemer, 3rd class neck badge, gold and enamels, with ring but lacking suspension loop; Japan, Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, lacking suspension loop, some enamel chips and old repair to top arm; Sweden, Order of the Sword, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, reverse centre detached but present, the Egypt medal with pitting from star, nearly very fine, otherwise generally good very fine (13) £1,800-£2,200

K.C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1925.

C.B. London Gazette 3 June 1918.

M.V.O. 4th Class London Gazette 12 August 1904: Commander, His Majesty’s yacht “Victoria and Albert”.

M.I.D. London Gazette 15 September 1916 (Commended for services at Jutland).

Legion of Honour, Officer London Gazette 15 September 1916 (Jutland).

Order of St Anne, 2nd Class with swords London Gazette 5 June 1917 (Jutland).

Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class London Gazette 2 November 1917.

Victor Albert Stanley was born on 17 January 1867, the second son of Frederick Arthur Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, a Conservative politician who was the second son of the 14th Earl of Derby, thrice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Queen Victoria was Victor’s godmother, and stood as sponsor in person at his christening.

Stanley entered the Navy in 1880, was appointed a Lieutenant in 1899, promoted to Commander in January 1901, and to Captain in 1905. He was Naval Cadet of the Monarch at the bombardment of Alexandria, 11 July 1882, and during the Egyptian war (Medal with clasp and Khedive’s Bronze Star). He was appointed M.V.O. 4th Class when in command of H.M. yacht Victoria and Albert on the occasion of the King’s visit to Kiel, 1 July 1904. He was Naval Attaché at St Petersburg, November 1905 to November 1908, and was invested with the Order of St Anne in Diamonds (2nd Class) by the Czar of Russia, on the occasion of the King’s visit to Reval in June 1908. He also served as Naval Attaché to Norway and Sweden.

Stanley was appointed as Captain of the armoured cruiser Essex in March 1909, and to command Pomone and for command of the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, on 14 August 1912. He served in the Great War as commanding officer of H.M.S. Erin, 1914-17, which was one of two Turkish battleships under construction in Britain that were seized for the Royal Navy at the start of the war. He was appointed Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King on 12 August 1915, and took part in the battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, as part of the Second Battle Squadron, being commended for his services in the action and decorated Officer of the Legion of Honour by the President of the French Republic. Later honours followed from Russia and Japan. Stanley was appointed to the Admiralty for special service on 6 July 1917. He was head of the Naval Mission to Russia and appointed C.B. for these services in 1918.

He was appointed Rear-Admiral in the First Battle Squadron, Atlantic Fleet, 1919-20; Admiral of the Training Service, 1920; Vice-Admiral, 1921; appointed Vice-Admiral commanding the Reserve Fleet, 1924-26; promoted to Admiral on 2 March 1926, and placed on the Retired List at his own request on 8 November 1926. Admiral Sir Victor Stanley died in London on 9 June 1934.