Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Colonel the Earl of Donoughmore, K.P., British Red Cross Society, who served on the Society’s War Committee, and was twice Mentioned in Despatches

1914-15 Star (Earl of Donoughmore); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Earl of Donoughmore); Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold, Military Division, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, French motto, with rosette on riband, mounted as worn, generally very fine (6) £1,400-£1,800

Richard Walter John Hely-Hutchinson, 6th Earl of Donoughmore, was born on 2 March 1875, the son of the 5th Earl of Donoughmore, and was educated at Eton and New College, Oxford. He succeeded to the Earldom in 1900, and then served briefly as a Captain in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment. Taking his set in the House of Lords, he served as Under-Secretary of State for War from 1903 to 1905, and in 1913 was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland.

During the Great War Lord Donoughmore was a Commissioner of the British Red Cross Society’s War Committee, and served on the Western Front with the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel from 10 August 1915. For his services he was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 4 January 1917 and 24 December 1917) and was promoted honorary Colonel. He was also part of the Mesopotamia Commission of Inquiry. He was created a Knight of the Order of St. Patrick in 1916, and appointed to the Privy Council in 1918. He died on 19 October 1948, and was succeeded to the earldom by his son.

Sold with copied research.