Order of White Eagle awarded in 1896 to Field Marshal Francis Wallace, 1st Baron Grenfell on the occasion of the Coronation of Tsar Nicholas II

Set that was awarded awarded to Field Marshal Francis Wallace, 1st Baron Grenfell on the occasion of the Coronation of Tsar Nicholas II on May 26, 1896.

Sash badge.
Gold, enamel.
Size 90.7 x 61.1 mm.
Weight 86.13 g.

Marked with St. Petersburg assay office gold hallmark "56+anchors", "double-headed eagle" and maker's mark "AK" for Albert Keibel workshop https://asiamedals.info/threads/orders-of-white-eagle-made-by-workshop-of-albert-keibel-ak.27769/.

Ring marks.

 

Breast star.
Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 91 x 89.9 mm.

Marked with St. Petersburg assay office silver hallmark "84 +anchors", "double-headed eagle" and maker's mark "Keibel".

Marks.

Pin marks.

 

"The great event of 1896 for me was my visit to Moscow for the Coronation of Tsar Nicholas. The Duke of Connaught represented the Queen and I was selected to represent the Army...

We were wonderfully well done in Moscow, I had five rooms, a carriage to myself, two pairs of horses, and a royal footman always ready to leap on the box…I received the…Order of the "White Eagle".

After my tub, I was sitting in a bath towel dressing-gown, when in marched Prince Galitzin and two other Russian officers in full uniform with the decoration. I could not get up to thank the Prince, having to conceal my legs, and the situation was a somewhat difficult one. I was most grateful for the honour, but I feel sure that I am the only Knight of the Order that has received it in a bath towel. The situation was such a ridiculous one, and my attempts to assume a dignified attitude so impossible that we all collapsed into roars of laughter. I produced cigarettes, and passed quite a pleasant half-hour."
​

Field Marshal Francis Wallace Grenfell, 1st Baron Grenfell, GCB, GCMG, PC (Ire) (29 April 1841 – 27 January 1925) was a British Army officer. After serving as aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief, South Africa, he fought in the 9th Xhosa War, the Anglo-Zulu War and then the Anglo-Egyptian War. He went on to become Sirdar (Commander-in-Chief) of the Egyptian Army and commanded the forces at the Battle of Suakin in December 1888 and at the Battle of Toski in August 1889 during the Mahdist War. After that he became Governor of Malta and then Commander-in-Chief, Ireland before retiring in 1908.​

 

Field Marshal's Baton.

Made in 18 carat gold covered in Imperial purple velvet and studded with eighteen gold lions, the base inscribed "From His Majesty Edward VII King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to Field Marshal the Rt. Hon. The Lord Grenfell, G.C.B., G.C.M.G. 1908."

Length 540 mm.

Hallmarks for London 1907.