About the product

GCMG Collar Fitted Case Sir Cosmo

Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George, Full Collar Chain, silver gilt and enamels in fitted case of issue by Garrards. Attributed to Sir Cosmo Parkinson, circa 1942.

Out of stock

Origin: United Kingdom
Nearly Extremely Fine

Description

Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George, Full Collar Chain, silver gilt and enamels in fitted case of issue by Garrards. Attributed to Sir Cosmo Parkinson, circa 1942.

 

An excellent quality Collar Chain in silver gilt, One arm of a cross missing and a very slight flake to another otherwise a beautiful example.

 

In the original fitted leather case made by Garrard & Co, the case being in extremely good condition with almost no scuffing to the leather and working catches.

 

The accompanying Grand Cross Set of Sash Badge and Breast Star are offered in the next lot, J7558.

 

With original Booklet for the funeral of Sir Cosmo held in the Chapel of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George at Saint Paul’s Cathedral.
The original booklet for the Annual Service of the Order in St Paul’s Cathedral to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Order.
A torn wartime Code Telegram sent to Sir Cosmo by The Governor or Ceylon dated 19th August 1941.

 

Sir Arthur Charles Cosmo Parkinson, GCMG KCG OBE better known as “Sir Cosmo” was a long serving British Civil Servant who held a number of appointments including 5 years as Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies.

 

The Collar and Set of the GCMG were conferred upon Sir Cosmo during 1942, at which time he had been recalled to the Colonial Office and was appointed to his second term as Permanent Under-Secretary of State from 1940-42.
By the time of the award he had been seconded for “Special Duties” following the fall of various Colonies such as Hong Kong, Malaya and Somaliland. This new appointment allowed him to visit travel a lot during the war to discuss local issues with Governors and Colonial Administrators. He spent 1942-3 visting, Gambia, Nigeria, Kenya, Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Mauritius, Seychelles, Aden.

 

Sir Cosmo was born in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, the only son of Surgeon, Sidney George Parkinson and Elizabeth Trench.
He was educated at Epsom College, where he became Head Prefect before heading to the University of Oxford.

 

He had first joined the Colonial Office as a Clerk during 1909, which was the start of a 36 year Career.

 

During WW1, he took up arms and served with the King’s African Rifles being awarded an OBE in 1919 for his service in East Africa.

 

After the war he returned to the Colonial Office and began to rise through the ranks. First becoming an Assistant Secretary in the Dominions Office (1925-27), followed by Head of the East Africa Department (1927-1931) followed by 6 years as Assistant Under-Secretary for the Colonies (1931-37).
In 1937 he was appointed as Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies for a term of 3 years from 1937-1940.
Afterwards he served as Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, but was soon recalled to the Colonial Office after his successor, Sir George Gater, was transferred to the Ministry of Supply.

 

Sir Cosmo would then serve his 2nd Term as Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies