Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The C.V.O. awarded to R. J. Hill, Esq., M.B.E., Secretary, Lord Chamberlain’s Office, late Major, Royal Artillery

The Royal Victorian Order, C.V.O., Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially numbered ‘1851’, with full and miniature width neck ribands, in Collingwood, London, case, this numbered ‘C1849’, about extremely fine £300-£400

C.V.O. London Gazette 1 January 1973.

Ronald John Hill was appointed a Clerk in the Lord Chamberlain’s Office in 1932, and was present as a Staff Officer at the Coronation of H.M. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937. He served with the Royal Artillery during the Second World War, was advanced Major, and was Mentioned in Despatches ‘for gallant and distinguished services in Italy’ (London Gazette 27 November 1945). Following the cessation of hostilities he was created a Member of the Order of the British Empire (London Gazette 13 December 1945).

Returning to the Lord Chamberlain’s Office, Hill was present as a Staff Officer at the Wedding of H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947; at the Funeral of H.M. King George VI in 1952; and at the Coronation of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Appointed a Member Fifth Class of the Royal Victorian Order in 1948 (London Gazette 10 June 1948), he was promoted Assistant Secretary in the Lord Chamberlain’s Office in 1955, and was advanced to Member Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1959 New Year’s Honours’ List (London Gazette 1 January 1959). He was appointed a Sergeant-at-Arms to H.M. the Queen in August 1963, and was promoted Secretary in the Lord Chamberlain’s Office in October 1969. He was created a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1973 New Year’s Honours’ List, and retired in 1976. Between November 1955 and September 1975 he was awarded 25 foreign Orders of Knighthood on the occasion of the various incoming State Visits to the United Kingdom.

Sold with the Bestowal Documents for the C.V.O., named to Ronald John Hill Esq., M.V.O., M.B.E., and dated 1 January 1973, in envelope of issue; M.V.O. Fourth Class, named to Ronald John Hill Esq., M.V.O., M.B.E., and dated 1 January 1959, in envelope of issue; M.V.O. Fifth Class, named to Ronald John Hill Esq., M.B.E., and dated 10 June 1948, with Central Chancery letter, in envelope of issue; and M.B.E. (Military), named to Major (temporary) Ronald John Hill, Royal Artillery, and dated 13 December 1945, with Central Chancery letter, in envelope of issue; together with a copy of the Statutes of the Royal Victorian Order.