Description
Physical description
Sash badge/Breast Star
badge, shape : cross, Maltese obverse : rose, thistle and shamrock issuing from a sceptre between three arched Imperial crowns, all in gold, on a circular white enamel centrepiece which is surrounded by a band of red enamel bearing the motto of the Order in inlaid letters of gold. The band is surrounded by a laurel wreath, enamelled in the proper colours, having at its base a dark blue enamel scroll bearing text in inlaid letters of gold. The whole centred upon the cross, the arms of which are enamelled white and edged with gold, the points of each arm being ball-tipped in gold, each ball being 5 mm in diameter. In each of the four angles formed by the arms of the cross a small lion in gold : obverse text : "TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO" & "ICH DIEN" : reverse : as obverse, except that the gold lions face away from the observer : reverse text : "TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO" & "ICH DIEN" suspender : ring, circular (connected to badge via stylised flower in cleft of upper vertical arm)
star, eight pointed (flaming and multi-rayed) : Imperial crowns, three, in gold and enamelled in the proper colours, on a chipped silver circular centrepiece which is surrounded by a band of red enamel bearing the motto of the Order in ornate raised letters of gold. The band is surrounded by a wreath of laurel enamelled in the proper colours. At the base of the wreath a scroll in dark blue enamel bears text in inlaid letters of gold. The whole in the centre of a gold Maltese cross which is in turn centred upon the chipped silver, eight pointed, flaming star : "TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO" & "ICH DIEN" (trans: 'Three Joined in One' & I Serve'). The riband is crimson.
Label
Rawlinson created GCB New Year's Honours List 1919. General Sir Henry Seymour Rawlinson Bt, 1st Baron Rawlinson of Trent (1864-1925) was Commander of the British Fourth Army on the Somme in 1916 and subsequently Commander of the Fourth Army in its victorious advance in 1918. Born at Trent Manor, Dorset on 20 February 1864, he was educated at Eton and Sandhurst and commissioned into the 60th Rifles transferring to the Coldstream Guards in 1892. In the years before the First World War Rawlinson saw service in India, Egypt and South Africa and held a number of senior appointments at home. The outbreak of the First World War found Rawlinson without an active command with the BEF. He was at the War Office as Director of Recruiting in the crucial period following Kitchener's appeal for volunteers and played a major role in the successful raising of the New Army. However, in late September 1914 he was given command of the 4th Division and 3rd Cavalry Division, which were landing at Ostend and Zeebrugge in order to attempt the relief of Antwerp. When Antwerp fell before being relieved, Rawlinson successfully covered the retreat of the Belgian Army retiring to join the BEF at Ypres where he subsequently became involved in the defence of the Channel Ports. He then commanded IV Corps, which, in March 1915 played a leading role in the fighting at Neuve Chapelle. The Corps was heavily involved in the fighting at Festubert and Aubers Ridge. In December 1915 Rawlinson assumed temporary command of the First Army and in early 1916 was promoted Lieutenant General with command of the newly created Fourth Army. He was promoted full General in January 1917. In November Rawlinson took over command of the British Left and was in that position in February 1918 when he was appointed British Military Advisor to the Supreme War Council. In March 1918 he was recalled to command of the British Fifth Army which he reconstituted as the Fourth Army. In August 1918, the Fourth Army successfully attacked astride the Somme. By the time the Armistice became effective on 11 November 1918, Rawlinson's Fourth Army of twenty-four British, Australian, Canadian and American Divisions had won four great battles and eighteen actions, as a result of which the enemy had been driven back sixty miles. After the Armistice the Fourth Army remained in occupation in Belgium and, on its dissolution, Rawlinson came home in March 1919 when he was appointed to take charge of the evacuation of Allied Forces from North Russia. In November 1920 he was appointed C in C India. General Lord Rawlinson of Trent died in March 1925. The IWM also has in its collections a portrait of Rawlinson painted in 1918 by Sir William Orpen RA (Ref: IWM ART 3047). For Lord Rawlinson's other awards please see OMD 4214-4238
History note
Rawlinson created GCB New Year's Honours List 1919. General Sir Henry Seymour Rawlinson Bt, 1st Baron Rawlinson of Trent (1864-1925) was Commander of the British Fourth Army on the Somme in 1916 and subsequently Commander of the Fourth Army in its victorious advance in 1918. Born at Trent Manor, Dorset on 20 February 1864, he was educated at Eton and Sandhurst and commissioned into the 60th Rifles transferring to the Coldstream Guards in 1892. In the years before the First World War Rawlinson saw service in India, Egypt and South Africa and held a number of senior appointments at home. The outbreak of the First World War found Rawlinson without an active command with the BEF. He was at the War Office as Director of Recruiting in the crucial period following Kitchener's appeal for volunteers and played a major role in the successful raising of the New Army. However, in late September 1914 he was given command of the 4th Division and 3rd Cavalry Division, which were landing at Ostend and Zeebrugge in order to attempt the relief of Antwerp. When Antwerp fell before being relieved, Rawlinson successfully covered the retreat of the Belgian Army retiring to join the BEF at Ypres where he subsequently b became involved in the defence of the Channel Ports. He then commanded IV Corps, which, in March 1915 played a leading role in the fighting at Neuve Chapelle. The Corps was heavily involved in the fighting at Festubert and Aubers Ridge. In December 1915 Rawlinson assumed temporary command of the First Army and in early 1916 was promoted Lieutenant General with command of the newly created Fourth Army. He was promoted full General in January 1917. In November Rawlinson took over command of the British Left and was in that position in February 1918 when he was appointed British Military Advisor to the Supreme War Council. In March 1918 he was recalled to command of the British Fifth Army which he reconstituted as the Fourth Army. In August 1918, the Fourth Army successfully attacked astride the Somme. By the time the Armistice became effective on 11 November 1918, Rawlinson's Fourth Army of twenty-four British, Australian, Canadian and American Divisions had won four great battles and eighteen actions, as a result of which the enemy had been driven back sixty miles. After the Armistice the Fourth Army remained in occupation in Belgium and, on its dissolution, Rawlinson came home in March 1919 when he was appointed to take charge of the evacuation of Allied Forces from North Russia. In November 1920 he was appointed C in C India. General Lord Rawlinson of Trent died in March 1925. London Gazette entry 1 January 1919. General Lord Rawlinson of Trent (1864-1925). See file for full details. Rawlinson's Orders, Medals and Decorations unsold as Lot 495 in Spink's Sale of Wednesday 17 December 1997.
Acquisition: purchase (Private Treaty)