Badge and Star: Order of the British Empire, 3rd class (military)

Awarded to Admiral of the Fleet, Lord John Tovey (1885-1971) on 14 October 1941. Neck badge. Silver gilt cross patonce, enamelled blue grey on reverse. In the centre within a circle enamelled red, with motto 'FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE' gilt conjoined busts of King George V and Queen Mary. Reverse: The Royal cypher 'GRI' within a rope circle. Suspended from a pink ribbon with centre grey stripe and edged grey. Star: Silver, a gilt and enamel central medallion the same as the badge.

During World War I, Tovey commanded the destroyer HMS 'Jackal' at the Battle of Dogger Bank, HMS 'Onslow' at the Battle of Jutland and 'Ursa' at the Battle of Heligoland Bight. By the start of World War II, he was a Rear-Admiral in command of the destroyer flotillas of the Mediterranean Fleet, promoted to Vice-Admiral on 3 May 1939 and later Second in Command of the Mediterranean Fleet. From November 1940 as Commander-in Chief of the Home Fleet, he organised the pursuit and sinking of the 'Bismarck' and the escort of Arctic convoys. From June 1943 he was Commander-in-Chief, The Nore, involved with the invasion of Sicily and the Normandy Landings. He was ennobled on 15 February 1946 at the time of his retirement as 1st Baron Tovey of Langton Matravers.

Object Details

ID: MED2186
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: Order
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Garrard & Co. Ltd
Date made: 1941
People: Tovey, John Cronyn
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: badge: 62 mm; star: 82 mm
Parts: Badge and Star: Order of the British Empire, 3rd class (military)