Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War ‘Hong Kong’ C.B.E. group of five awarded to Surgeon Captain J. G. Maguire, Royal Navy

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband, in Garrard, London, case of issue; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (Surg. Lt. Cdr. J. G. Maguire. R.N.) first letter of rank officially corrected; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn; together with a duplicate Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (Surg. Lt. Cdr. J. G. Maguire. R.N.) nearly extremely fine (6) £500-£700

C.B.E. London Gazette 5 June 1952.

John George Maguire was born on 22 July 1901 and was commissioned Surgeon Lieutenant in the Royal Navy on 27 June 1925. Posted initially to H.M.S. Barham, he was promoted Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander 27 June 1931, and was posted to H.M.S. Adventure on 17 June 1936, serving in her during the operations on and off the coast of Palestine. He was promoted Surgeon Commander on 2 June 1937, and served during the Second World War at the Royal Naval Barracks at both Devonport and Chatham. Promoted Surgeon Captain on 31 December 1948, he was appointed to the Royal Naval Hospital Hong Kong, for which service he was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1952. He was placed on the Retired List on 22 February 1958.

Sold with the recipient’s named Bestowal Document for the C.B.E., with Central Chancery enclosures and a copy of the Statutes of the Order; named Bestowal Document for the Coronation Medal; named H.M.S. Adventure Crossing the Line ‘Certificate’ on the occasion of the recipient crossing the Equator, 6 April 1938; and copied research, including copied of various medical articles authored by the recipient.

Note: It is unknown why the recipient was awarded a duplicate Naval General Service Medal, although it is possible that the outbreak of the Second World War led to a mix up at the medal office, with the recipient’s original medal being issued immediately prior to the Second World War, but not properly logged, with the duplicate being issued after the cessation of hostilities.