Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An early and unusual M.V.O. pair awarded to Admiral H. A. Warren, Royal Navy

The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 4th Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, the reverse officially numbered ‘112’; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (Lieut., R.N., H.M.S. Mariner), mounted as worn, good very fine and better (2) £600-700

M.V.O. London Gazette 21 April 1903.

Herbert Augustus Warren, who entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in April 1869, was advanced to Sub. Lieutenant in April 1875 and to Lieutenant in April 1878. In the latter rank he was landed from H.M.S. Mariner for service in the Naval Brigade during the Burma operations of 1885-87, and was one of approximately 80 of that ship’s crew to qualify for the appropriate Medal and clasp. Thereafter, Warren saw no further active service but enjoyed steady promotion, and was awarded his M.V.O. in 1903 on the occasion of King Edward VII’s visit to Malta. By that stage a Captain, he was placed on the Retired List as a Rear-Admiral in March 1911, and in that capacity received subsequent advancement to Vice-Admiral in July 1912 and to full Admiral in June 1916.