Medals from an Africa Collection

An interesting Great War C.B.E. group of four awarded to Captain F. C. H. Allenby, Royal Navy, younger brother of Field Marshal Viscount Allenby, and personal friend of King George V from their time together in the Royal Navy. Often the source of ‘high-jinx’, he was affectionately known as ‘Moon Face’ to the King’s cousin Queen Marie of Romania, and was subject to a court martial for striking a Petty Officer

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in Garrard & Co. Ltd case of issue; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Alexandria 11th July (F. C. H. Allenby. Midn. R.N. H.M.S. “Alexandra”.) light pitting from Star; British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt. F. C. H. Allenby. R.N.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, generally very fine or better unless otherwise already stated (4) £1,000-£1,400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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C.B.E. London Gazette 1 July 1919:

‘For valuable services in connection with the Naval Transport Service at Liverpool and Southampton.’

Frederick Claude Hynman Allenby was born in Felixstowe in September 1864, and was the son of Hynman Allenby, and the younger brother of Field Marshal Viscount Allenby. He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet in January 1878, and was at Britannia at the same time as a young Prince George, later King George V (there is a group photograph of young sub-lieutenants posing together, including Allenby and the King, at H.M.S. Vernon in May 1885, a copy of which is included in lot research).

Allenby was appointed as a midshipman to H.M.S. Alexandra (flagship of the British Mediterranean Fleet) in June 1880, and served with her during the bombardment of Alexandria in 1882. A young Midshipman Dudley De Chair (later Admiral Sir Dudley De Chair, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., M.V.O.) was also serving with the Alexandra, and he mentions Allenby in his book The Sea is Strong:

‘All was excitement then, and none of us turned in; soon after daylight on the morning of July 11th the whole fleet weighed and cleared for action. Allenby, Hay and I went to the Captain and asked if we might take the position of the quartermasters on the upper bridge during the battle. I was told off to steer the ship (a great honour we considered), Hay was told off to get the range of the forts, and Allenby was told off to work the engine room telegraphs. All our men in the batteries were stripped to the waist, with white handkerchiefs tied round their heads, and the decks had been sanded to prevent slipping on blood.’

Allenby was mentioned in despatches for being engaged in reconnaissance at Malala Junction, Egypt, 5 August 1882. He advanced to sub-lieutenant, and was subsequently posted to H.M.S. Neptune. Allenby was still, however, very much a fixture in royal circles - Prince George was appointed to H.M.S. Alexandra which had now been made the flagship of the Prince Alfred, The Duke of Edinburgh. The latter’s daughter was Princess Marie, later Queen of Romania, and she gives the following in The Story of My Life, by Marie, Queen of Rumania:

‘We made innumerable friends, mostly among the naval officers; the fleet was, so to say, at our disposal, and we were continually visiting one ship or another, H.M.S. Alexandra, papa’s flagship, being our great favourite, her midshipmen becoming our particular chums. Amongst our group of very young naval friends there was a certain Lieutenant Allenby, a round faced youth, all smiles, good humour and recklessness. Though his years counted more than ours, he was not a day older than we as to tastes and habits, there was plenty of health in him, but little wisdom. When Allenby was one of the party it was sure to be a day of adventure, frolic and merry making, a day, also, of anxiety for elders. He was also allowed in small doses only, because our association was not “de tout repos”. We called Allenby Full Moon because of the excessive roundness of his cheerful countenance.

Whenever he could cousin George joined our Saturday picnics, and he was fond of declaring that the ‘dear three’ [Marie and her sisters) were much better behaved and less unruly when he was leader of the wild horde. It was certainly Allenby, or Full Moon, who was the most irrepressible. The days when he was one of the party were days of high jinks.’

Allenby advanced to lieutenant in August 1887, and was granted permission to go abroad during October of the same year to The Crown Prince and Princess of Germany. He was serving with H.M.S. Scylla, when he was subject to a court martial for striking a petty officer. Allenby was severely reprimanded and dismissed his ship in August 1897. He advanced to commander in December 1900, and retired as captain in December 1909. Allenby re-engaged for service during the Great War, and was borne on H.M.S. President as training officer, Liverpool, 1 August 1914 - 23 May 1919 (C.B.E.).

B. Gardner in his book Allenby gives Viscount Allenby as recalling a visit by the then King George V to his Corps in France:

‘He was very chatty and affable, asked me a lot about Claude, and told me tales of their adventures together as sub-lieutenants.’

When Field Marshal Allenby was elevated to the peerage as a viscount, Captain F. C. H. Allenby was named as the heir to the title (the Field Marshal’s son having been killed in the Great War. Captain Allenby died in August 1934, with his elder brother dying in 1936 - the title then passed to Captain Allenby’s son.

Sold with photographic images of recipient, and copied research.