Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Ordinary Member of the Military Division Award Document (embossed Seal of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire at the upper left, the printed signature of King George VI at the upper right, inscribed in running script: "George the Sixth by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith and Sovereign of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire to Our trusty and well-beloved John Hughes Esquire Lieutenant in Our Royal Navy / Greeting / Whereas We have thought fit to nominate and appoint you to be an Ordinary Member of the Military Division of Our said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire We do by these presents grant unto you the Dignity of an Ordinary Member of Our said Order and hereby authorise you to have hold and enjoy the said Dignity and Rank of an Ordinary Member of Our aforesaid Order together with all and singular the privileges thereunto belonging or appertaining. / Given at Our Court at Saint James's under Our Sign Manual and the Seal of Our Order, this Ninth day of June 1949 in the Thirteenth year of Our Reign / By the Sovereign's Command / Grand Master", with the signature of the King's mother, Her Majesty Queen Mary in black ink. It is also inscribed in running script "Grant of the dignity of an Ordinary Member of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire to Lieutenant John Hughes, Royal Navy." at the lower left. It is printed in black ink, on a thick white paper stock, measuring 324 mm (w) x 387 mm (h), with one horizontal fold mark, extremely clean);
Letter from the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood (British coat-of-arms at the upper left, inscribed "CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD, ST. JAMES'S PLACE, S.W.1." at the upper right, inscribed "Sir, / I have the honour to send to you herewith the Warrant under the King's Sign Manual granting you the dignity of a Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and to inform you that the Insignia has been sent to you under separate registered cover. / Would you please be good enough to acknowledge the receipt of these on the attached form. / I have the honour to be, / Your obedient Servant" with the signature in black ink of Brigadier Sir Ivan de la Bere KCVO CB CBE, "Register of the Order of the British Empire. / Lieutenant John Hughes, M.B.E., Royal Navy.", with a handwritten note in black ink inscribed "Receipt forwarded 21/11/49" and initialled "JH" in the left margin, the text in typewritten black ink, the arms and Central Chancery address printed in red ink, on an off-white paper stock, measuring 202 mm (w) x 242 mm (h));
Letter from Buckingham Palace (British coat-of-arms at the upper left, inscribed "BUCKINGHAM PALACE" at the upper right, inscribed "I greatly regret that I am unable to give you personally the award which you have so well earned. / I now send it to you with my congratulations and by best wishes for your future happiness.", with the printed signature of King George VI in black ink, "Lieutenant John Hughes, M.B.E., Royal Navy.", the text in typewritten black ink, the arms and Buckingham Palace masthead printed in red ink, on an off-white paper stock, measuring 118 mm (w) x 190 mm (h), with one horizontal fold mark); and
Letter from the Royal Navy Acknowledging His Being Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette (the Royal Navy insignia in gold-coloured ink at the top, inscribed "The Lords Commission of the Admiralty hereby certify that by the KING'S order the name of Mr. John Hughes, Boatswain, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Jade. was published in the London Gazette on 14 January 1941. as mentioned in Despatches for good service of which His Majesty's high appreciation is thus recorded.", printed in black and red inks, on an off-white paper stock, measuring 172 mm (w) x 173 mm (h), lightly soiled).
Accompanied by the Shipping Envelope for the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Ordinary Member of the Military Division (obverse addressed in handwritten black ink to "Lieutenant John Hughes, MBE, RN, / H.M.S. "Gamecock," / R.N. Air Station, / Bramcote, / Nuneaton, / Warwicks", with the ship and address stroked out and replaced with "4, Hayes Rd, / Creston, / Plymouth", inscribed "Receipt forwarded 21/11/49" at the upper right, with a postal stamp in red ink marked "LONDON. S.W.1 / 20 16 NOV 49 / 5:15 PM / OFFICIAL MAIL", a Lord Chamberlain St. James's Palace stamp at the lower left in blue ink, reverse with the return address bearing the British coat-of-arms above "CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD, ST. JAMES'S PALACE, S.W.1" in red ink, along with a postal stamp in black ink marked "NUNEATON WARWICKSHIRE / 5 PM / 17 NO / 49", on a cream-coloured paper stock, measuring 352 mm (w) x 228 mm (h), soiled, worn and torn edges, near fine).
Other than the envelope, all are extremely fine.
Footnote: In the rank of Boatswain with the ASW Trawler Class H.M.S. Jade, John Hughes was Mentioned in Despatches, the announcement appearing in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette 35041 of Friday, January 10, 1941, on Tuesday, January 14, 1941, page 260" "Mr. John Hughes, Boatswain, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Jade.". By 1949, he was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and was named to be an Ordinary Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, the announcement appearing in the Supplement to the London Gazette 38628 of Friday, June 3, 1949, on Thursday, June 9, 1949, page 2798.