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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 651

An unusual group of nine awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel M. R. de Cordova C.B.E., Jamaican Army and Air Cadet Force, late Army Service Corps, who was instrumental in creating and leading a youth movement on the island

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member's 2nd type breast Badge, silver; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. M. R. De Cordova A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. M. R. De Cordova); War Medal 1939-45; Coronation 1953; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver and silver-gilt, reverse privately engraved 'Major. M. R. De Cordova. M.B.E.', with integral top 'Territorial' riband bar; Cadet Forces Medal, E.II.R., unnamed; Jamaica Independence Medal 1962, very fine (9)

[C.B.E.] London Gazette 31 December 1965.

M.B.E. London Gazette 11 May 1937.

E.D. London Gazette 27 February 1941. Just 11 Awards of the E.D. to Jamaican Local Forces.

Michael Ralph de Cordova was born on 4 January 1889 at Kingston, Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica, the son of Joshua and Violanthe de Cordova. His family lineage can be traced back to some of the earliest settlers around 1770, when the first volume related to Jewish settlers was titled, 'The Haham De Cordova of Jamaica'. It addressed the significance of Jewish communities in the West Indies during the 18th Century and contrasted life in Jamaica to that on the North American mainland.

A civil engineer and commercial businessman by profession, de Cordova was commissioned Lieutenant in the Territorial Army Service Corps on 21 October 1914. Posted to France on 25 January 1915, he served on the Western Front with No. 181 Company, 28th Divisional Supply Column, followed by No. 562 Company, A.S.C., attached Anzac Corps Headquarters, Heavy Artillery. Seconded for duty with the regular A.S.C. forces (London Gazette 15 December 1915, refers), de Cordova was promoted Temporary Captain on 11 March 1916. On 29 November 1917 de Cordova slipped and 'pitched forward' when descending stairs in France. He damaged his right knee and was awarded 6 weeks off military duties to recuperate. Demobilised on 8 January 1919 he initially returned home to his wife Ethel Clara de Cordova, living in Mayfield Road, Sutton, Surrey.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, de Cordova proved instrumental in the creation of the Jamaican Army and Air Cadet Force on 1 November 1943. Prior to this date, one or two schools had Army Training Corps units, but by the end of 1943, Cadet units had been formed in sixteen different schools, colleges and training centres, and the force had a strength of 46 officers and 1,068 cadets under the command of its newly promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, de Cordova. Together with Garrison Commander T. Denis Daly, M.C., they successfully evolved the organisation, compiled the rules and regulations and designed the badge of what is today known as the Jamaican Combined Cadet Force.

Appointed Honorary Colonel of the Cadet Force in 1963, de Cordova was bestowed with the C.B.E. for his leadership spanning over twenty years and his name was given to the J.C.C.F. barracks at Up Park Camp. He died on 20 January 1983 at Guildford, Surrey; sold with copied service record, MIC and research.


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Sold for
£450

Starting price
£210