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Auction: 9004 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 938

A Fine and Interesting Diplomat´s C.M.G., Great War ´Military Division´ O.B.E. Group of Eight to Sir John Leche [K.C.M.G.], Whose Appointments for His Majesty Included as Minister Plenipotentiary to the Spanish Republican Government, 1937-38, and As Minister and Consul-General to Central America, 1939-45; Late Captain and Intelligence Officer 12th Lancers a) The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Companion´s (C.M.G.) neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, minor enamel damage, with neck riband b) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1st type, Military Division, Officer´s (O.B.E.) breast Badge, silver-gilt (Hallmarks for London 1918) c) 1914 Star, and Bar (2.Lieut: J.H. Leche. 12/Lrs.) d) British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaves (Capt. J.H. Leche.) e) Jubilee 1935 f) Coronation 1937 g) Belgium, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, Knight´s breast Badge, silver and enamel, reverse centre missing, and enamel damage to obverse of order, the group generally very fine or better unless otherwise stated, last seven mounted as originally worn (8) Estimate £ 800-1,000 K.C.M.G. London Gazette 9.6.1949 John Hurleston Leche, Esq., C.M.G., O.B.E., His Majesty´s Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Santiago C.M.G. London Gazette 1.2.1937 John Hurleston Leche, Esq., O.B.E. Counsellor at His Majesty´s Embassy Buenos Aires O.B.E. London Gazette 3.6.1919 Leche, T./Capt. John Hurleston, 12th Lancers. (S.R.) Belgium Order of the Crown, 5th Class London Gazette 21.1.1921 Lieutenant John Hurleston Leche, O.B.E., 12th Lancers (Special Reserve) Sir John Hurleston Leche, K.C.M.G., O.B.E. (1889-1960), of Carden Park and Stretton Hall, Cheshire; educated at Eton and Royal Military College Sandhurst; commissioned Second Lieutenant 12th Lancers, 1910; retired and entired Special Reserve of same regiment, 1913; served during the Great War as a G.S.O. 3 (Intelligence), on the Western Front, from August 1914 (O.B.E.; Twice M.I.D. London Gazette 11.12.1917 and 20.12.1918); entered the Diplomatic Service, 1919, and served at Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Berne, Madrid and Guatemala; held the appointment of Charge d´Affaires, as Minister Plenipotentiary to the Spanish Republican Government, Valencia and Barcelona, 1937-38; served as Minister and Consul-General to Central America, 1939-45, ´he was very popular.... with headquarters in Guatemala. Here in his last year he gave sanctuary to deposed President of Guatemala, General Ubico, and his wife until they could be smuggled out of the country to New Orleans, and by this humanitarian act no doubt saved the fallen dictator´s life´ (recipient´s Times Obituary refers); held the appointment of Ambassador to Chile, 1945-49; retired from the Diplomatic Service, 1950.

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£2,700