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Auction: 9008 - The John Marshall Collection, other Ancient, British, World Coins, Comm Medals & Books
Lot: 134

THE ROYAL SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY LIVINGSTONE MEDAL AWARDED TO FIELD MARSHAL VISCOUNT ALLENBY Large gold medal by P. Macgillivray, david livingstone, capped bust of Livingstone right, signed macgillivray by right shoulder, rev. fiat lux, angel flying right, holding torch and olive branch, in the distance below, a three masted vessel moored against an African shore, signed macgillivray below, 63mm., 193.14g. (BHM.3387; E.1627), the edge engraved in sans serif capitals field marshal the right hon viscount allenby in recognition of his services to the study of geography in the near east 1926, a few small marks otherwise extremely fine, extremely rare Estimate £ 6,000-7,000 The Livingstone medal is awarded periodically ´´for outstanding public service in which Geography has played an important part, either by exploration, by administration, or in other directions where its principles have been applied to the benefit of the human race.´´ Edmund Henry Hyndman Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby of Megiddo and Felixstowe, GCB, GCMG, GCVO (1861-1936), served with distinction in the Boer War, and during First World War commanded the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the highly successful Sinai and Palestine Campaigns of 1917-18. In the first offensive, November-December 1917, the British swept through Gaza, captured Beersherba, and arrived before Jerusalem. On 11 December Allenby entered the city on foot through the Jaffa Gate as a mark of respect for the status of Jerusalem as the Holy City of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Allenby completed his task the next year, breaking the Ottoman lines at Megiddo and advancing at great speed, taking Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo during October, leading to the Ottoman capitulation at the end of the month. The name Allenby became celebrated throughout the Near East. Main streets in both Tel-Aviv and Haifa are named for General Allenby, as is the main bridge over the Jordan River between the Kingdom of Jordan and the Israeli occupied West Bank. According to the Baha´´i Faith, his victory at Megiddo fulfills the prophecy of the Battle of Armageddon in the Book of Revelation. Allenby was made Field Marshal and created Viscount Allenby in October 1919, and was appointed High Commissioner of Egypt, a post he held until his retiremant in 1925.

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