City of Westminster, Past Mayor’s Badge, in 9 ct. gold and enamels, by S. Blanckensee & Son Ltd., Birmingham, 1903, the openwork presentation badge in the form of the supported arms of the City of Westminster with motto CUSTODI CIVITATEM DOMINE, the plain reverse engraved DUKE OF NORFOLK K.G. / 1ST MAYOR / CITY OF WESTMINSTER / 1900-1901, 42 x 50.5mm, 26.5g all in, enamelwork of excellent quality, virtually as made, with double suspension loop and dark blue neck riband, for wearing, in fitted case of issue Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk, KG, GCVO, VD, PC (1847-1917) succeeded both to the Dukedom and to the hereditary position of Earl Marshal in 1860, at the age of just 12. In 1895 he was appointed Postmaster General in Lord Salisbury’s Unionist government and he became Mayor of Sheffield in the same year, with responsibility for preparing the City’s lavish celebrations to mark Queen Victoria’s forthcoming Diamond Jubilee. In his role as Earl Marshal he was destined also to arrange the State Funerals of Gladstone in 1898 and of Queen Victoria in 1901, the 1902 Coronation and 1910 State Funeral of Edward VII, and the Coronation of George V in 1911.Elected as the very first annual Mayor of Westminster in 1900, the Duke served in the Boer War as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Imperial Yeomanry. After being wounded near Pretoria he was invalided home and subsequently chaired the Royal Commission on Militia and Volunteers, established in 1903, which endeavoured to redefine the role of auxiliary forces whilst enhancing their training and improving their equipment. Although the Norfolk Commission’s proposal for a conscripted Home Defence Army was considered too radical and was rejected, it was influential in the creation of the Territorial Force in 1908 under the Haldane Reforms.The 15th Duke of Norfolk was created KG in 1886 and GCVO in 1902, following Edward VII’s Coronation. He is remembered for his extensive philanthropy, including support for numerous Catholic causes, the foundation of St Edmund’s College, Cambridge and contribution to the establishment and construction of Sheffield University, of which he became the first Chancellor.

Provenance: Ex Christie’s, 10 December 1986, lot 275

Estimate: GBP 1000 - 1500