Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A pre-War K.C.V.O. group of four awarded to Admiral Sir James Goodrich, K.C.V.O., Royal Navy, the last Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific; he was recalled for service during the Great War as a Captain and Commodore 2nd Class in the Royal Naval Reserve

The Royal Victorian Order, K.C.V.O., Knight Commander’s, set of insignia, comprising neck badge and breast star in silver, silver-gilt and enamels, reverse of the badge officially numbered ‘K238’, the reverse of the star officially numbered ‘238’ and with gold pin for wearing, with neck cravat in its Collingwood Jewellers Ltd fitted case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Capt. Sir J. E. C. Goodrich. K.C.V.O., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Commre. 2 Cl. Sir J. E. C. Goodrich. R.N.R.) extremely fine (5) £1,600-£2,000

K.C.V.O. 26 June 1908: ‘Admiral Superintendent of H.M.’s Naval Establishments, Gibraltar.’

M.V.O. 4th Class 27 April 1903: ‘Commanded H.M.S. London; H.M.’s Mediterranean Cruise.’

James Edward Clifford Goodrich was born at Maisemoor Court, Gloucester, on 28 June 1851. He was educated at H.M.S. Britannia and promoted Lieutenant, with three first-class certificates, in 1872. He was promoted to Captain in 1895 and, in June 1902, he was appointed in command of the new battleship H.M.S. London, which was commissioned for service in the Mediterranean Fleet, and left Portsmouth in early July for Gibraltar. Briefly returning to home waters in August, London served as flagship for the Coronation Review for King Edward VII at Spithead on 16 August 1902, before she was back with the Mediterranean Fleet. He received the M.V.O. in April 1903 on the occasion of the King’s visit to Naples. He then served as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station, from his appointment in October 1903 to its closure in February 1905. Improved communications, the signing of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and the need to concentrate warships in British waters to counter the developing German High Seas Fleet, meant that the station was closed down at sunset on 1 March 1905. He was appointed Rear-Admiral in October 1905, and was appointed Admiral Superintendent of H.M. Establishments at Gibraltar from August 1906 to September 1909, having received the K.C.V.O. in the King’s Birthday Honours in the previous year. He was promoted to Vice-Admiral on 30 April 1910, and to Admiral on 3 June 1913, Retired 4 June 1913.

Goodrich was recalled for service in the Great War as Temporary Captain, Royal Naval Reserve, on 16 November 1914. He was appointed in command of the Yacht Bacchante on 25 January 1915, and to the Yacht Jeannette on 15 February 1915. On 19 October 1916 he was appointed in charge of Auxiliary Patrol Force V (Peterhead) as Temporary Commodore 2nd Class R.N.R. in Yacht Jeannette. He relinquished his command on 22 June 1917. Admiral Sir James Goodrich afterwards lived at Stinchcombe Manor, Dursley, and was a J.P. for Gloucestershire. He died on 21 December 1924.