A relic of Sir John Franklin's last expedition 1845-48. The badge of a Knight Commander, of the Royal Hanovarian Guelphic Order awarded to Sir John Franklin on 25 January 1836. It was obtained from the Inuit at Repulse Bay in 1854 by the Rae Expedition. The Inuit said they had found the material at a camp to the north west of the mouth of the Back River where a party of Europeans had died of starvation.

The item is shown in the drawing by Edward Pulleyn (AAA3972). It was presented to Greenwich Hospital by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, 2 December 1854.

The Royal Hanovarian Guelphic Order was founded by the Prince Regent, later George IV in 1815. The badge is a Maltese cross with a gold ball on each point. There is a gold lion between each arm of the cross. The centre medallion is enameled red with green at the base and shows the white horse of Hanover. This is surrounded by a band of light blue enamel inscribed with the motto of the order 'NEC ASPERA TERRENT' (nor do difficulties daunt). This in turn is surrounded by a gold oak wreath. On the reverse on red enamel are the initials of the founder and the date of founding in gold letters.