A Second War ‘North West Europe’ O.B.E. group of nine awarded to...

A Second War ‘North West Europe’ O.B.E. group of nine awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry C. Carden, Bt., 17th/21st Lancers, who Commanded the Regiment in post-War Palestine, and later served as Military Attaché in Stockholm

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer‘s (Brother’s) breast badge, silver and enamel, with heraldic beasts in angles; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (Lt. Col. H. C. Carden. 17/21 L.); Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Sweden, Kingdom, Order of the Sword, Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, unmarked, with both full and miniature width neck ribands, in C. F. Carlman, Stockholm, case of issue, the group mounted as worn except for the Order of St. John which is loose, and housed in a leather case, the lid embossed ‘H.C.C.’, light contact marks, generally very fine and better (9) £700-£900

Footnote
O.B.E. London Gazette 21 June 1945:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe.’

The original Recommendation states: ‘As Second in Command, 2 Armoured Replacement Group forming on the War Establishment, and later as Officer Commanding, 2 Armoured Delivery Regiment, Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel Carden had a very great deal to do with the formation and reorganisation of Armoured Replacement Group onto a serviceable basis. His energy, enthusiasm, organising and administrative ability, and powers of leadership have contributed very largely to the supply of AFVs throughout the campaign.’

Order of St. John, Officer London Gazette 27 June 1952.

Sir Henry Christopher Carden, Bt., was born on 16 October 1908, the son of Major Sir Frederick Carden, 3rd Baronet, and was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College Sandhurst. Commissioned into the 17th/21st Lancers in 1928, he served with them in Egypt and India from 1930 to 1939, before attending the Staff College in 1941. He commanded 2 Armoured Delivery Regiment during the Second World War in France post-D-Day, and was advanced Lieutenant-Colonel. After further service as Commanding Officer of the 17th/21st Lancers in Greece and Palestine from 1947 to 1948, he joined the War Office in 1948, and was appointed Military Attaché in Stockholm in 1951, for which services he was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Sword in 1954. He retired in 1956.

Sir Henry succeeded to the baronetcy upon the death of his father on 22 September 1966, and in 1970 sold the family seat, Stargrove House, near Newbury, to the singer-songwriter Mick Jagger, member of the rock band the Rolling Stones (an apocryphal story has it that Jagger was high on LSD when he unwittingly bought the house). Sir Henry died on 4 February 1993, being succeeded to the baronetcy by his only son.

Sold with copied research.

For the recipient’s related miniature awards, see Lot 857.