An outstanding original named senior general’s multi-warrant honours archive relating to General Sir Ronald Forbes Adam, 2nd Baronet, GCB, DSO, OBE— one of the most significant British Army High Command administrators of the Second World War and a senior Royal Artillery officer whose career spanned both World Wars.

Bearing the royal sign manual of King George V & King George VI this remarkable group includes his royal appointment warrants for the Distinguished Service Order, Order of the British Empire, and progressive promotions within The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, culminating in Knight Grand Cross, GCB. A rare opportunity to acquire a highly decorative, named and historically important group connected with a major British general, complete with related statutes, correspondence, envelopes and portrait image.

Adam served across both World Wars and became Adjutant-General during WWII, a role described by the National Army Museum as making a “crucial contribution to final victory.” The Order of the Bath Military Division classes — GCB, KCB and CB — were awarded for outstanding service by senior officers, generally major-general and above.

The archive includes the following original material relating to Sir Ronald Forbes Adam:

• Distinguished Service Order warrant, George V, dated 1918
• Order of the British Empire warrant, George V, military division, dated 1919
• Order of the Bath Companion / CB warrant, George VI, dated 1939
• Order of the Bath Knight Commander / KCB warrant, George VI, dated 1941
• Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross / GCB warrant, George VI, dated 1946
• Related Central Chancery / War Office letters and acknowledgement forms
• Statutes booklet for the Distinguished Service Order
• Statutes booklet for the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, 1925
• Additional statutes / printed order material
• Original official envelopes from the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood
• Sepia portrait photographic print, after the 1940 portrait by Reginald Grenville Eves. The Imperial War Museum holds the original of this a 1940 portrait in oils
• The warrants bear the royal sign manual signatures of Kings George V & George VI and countersignatures of Great Masters of the Order of the Bath, Prince Henry and Prince Arthur
• All items shown are included. Please view all photographs as part of the description. Further photographs available on request

Condition

Overall condition is good to very good for age, with some handling wear. Visible age-related features include:

• Original folds to the warrants and letters
• Light toning and foxing in places, especially to the George V warrants
• Handling marks and minor edge wear
• Wear, creasing and tears to envelopes
• Statutes in very good condition
• Documents are very presentable and highly displayable

A rare chance to acquire a visually impressive and historically important honours archive to a senior British Army general — spanning the DSO, OBE and the highest grades of the Order of the Bath, with strong WWI, WWII, Royal Artillery and British high command interest. Full details of provenance available on request.