The very rare Great War Egypt New Years Honours 1920 female recipient’s Officer of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire pair awarded to Mrs. Ethel Ada Norton, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force Comfort Fund. At the time of the closure of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force Comfort Fund, General Allenby, commanding the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, expressed his thanks for her services rendered in a letter dated 6th March 1919. He wrote: ‘I take this opportunity of expressing my gratitude and the gratitude of all ranks under my command for the constant and self sacrificing devotion which you have given as Hon. Secretary and Treasurer of that fund. You have carried out a task of great difficulty, with complete success; and the benefit of your work has been invaluable. We ask you to accept our warm thanks and good wishes.’ It was for these services that she was appointed an Officer of Civil Division of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, the award being announced in the New Years Honours List as published in the London Gazette on 1st January 1920.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member, M.B.E., 1st type, Civil Division, hallmarks for London with date letter ‘d’ for 1919, mounted on ladies issue bow ribbon; British War Medal 1914-1919; (E.A. NORTON)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine.
Together with the recipient’s matching pair of miniatures, mounted swing style as worn.
Also a handwritten letter to the recipient from General Allenby, commanding the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, expressing his thanks for her services rendered, signed by Allenby, dated 6th March 1919. Letter now slightly damaged and mounted crudely into a card bordered frame.
Ethel Ada Norton, nee Johnson, and daughter of Mr. J. William Budds Johnson, of Hill House, Hethersett, Norfolk, married in September 1912, Arthur Ernest Norton, a Lieutenant in the West India Regiment.
During the Great War, she worked out in Egypt as the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force Comfort Fund. At the time of the closure of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force Comfort Fund, General Allenby, commanding the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, expressed his thanks for her services rendered in a letter dated 6th March 1919. He wrote: ‘I take this opportunity of expressing my gratitude and the gratitude of all ranks under my command for the constant and self sacrificing devotion which you have given as Hon. Secretary and Treasurer of that fund. You have carried out a task of great difficulty, with complete success; and the benefit of your work has been invaluable. We ask you to accept our warm thanks and good wishes.’
It was for these services that she was appointed an Officer of Civil Division of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, the award being announced in the New Years Honours List as published in the London Gazette on 1st January 1920.