Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely scarce inter-war O.B.E. group of three awarded to Major C. Bavin, Young Men’s Christian Association

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E., (Civil) Officer’s 1st type, breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; British War and Victory Medals (Hon-Major. C. Bavin. Y.M.C.A.) the VM polished, generally very fine and better (3) £240-£280

O.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 4 June 1928: Cyril Bavin, Esq., General Secretary, Migration Department of the National Councils of the Y.M.C.A. of Great Britain and Ireland.

Cyril Bavin was born in Nelson, New Zealand, in 1878, and was educated at the Wesleyan Theological Institution in the grounds of Newington College, Sydney. Ordained in 1903, he initially served in his father’s footsteps as a Methodist minister, later travelling to Fiji as a missionary. Appointed a military secretary to the Y.M.C.A. during the Great War, he held the rank of Honorary Major and represented the Y.M.C.A. on the Children’s Overseas Reception Board. He later became an advocate of British migration to the Dominions, using his position as Member of the Central Council of the Overseas League to encourage young men and women to forge new lives in Australia, New Zealand and Canada; a standpoint greatly enhanced by being the brother of the New South Wales Premier.

Sold with the recipient’s Order of the Red Triangle badge, base metal and enamel, unnamed as issued, awarded for valuable service rendered at hostels, camps, billeting centres and munition areas under the sign of the Red Triangle during the Great War.