St. James's Auctions
Auction 70 7 Dec 2022
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Education: Beaumont College (College of St Stanislaus), Windsor, a pair of silver medals, c.1910-14, awarded to Edgar Guillet, a French Great War hero; Madonna within quadrilobe, SEDES SPIENTÆ – ORA PRO NOBIS, rev. the façade of the College, 56mm. (Taylor 55a), in pristine fitted maroon leather cases of issue, named on lid, EDGAR GUILLET, both choice mint state and superb architectural medals (2)
Edgar Guillet came from the Rouyer-Guillet family, makers of cognac since 1701 and where the Maison Rouyer Guillet, based at the Chateau Rouyer-Guillet in Saintes, was considered as one of the most prestigious Cognac producers. Edgar Guillet joined the French army in 1914 at the age of 17, serving in the 2nd Bn (les Perigourdins), of 412 Régiment d'Infanterie, where he was known as "L'Anglais". He served on several sectors of L'Aisne and Verdun where he was awarded the Croix de Guerre. He was killed in action in a counter attack between Soissons and Rheims on 23 July 1918 for which he posthumously received France's highest bravery decoration, the Médaille Militaire. His brother Albert R. Guillet, was, at the age of 21, the first French Irish Guards officer and survived the War.
Edgar Guillet appears on the Rolls of Honour of both Beaumont College and Wimbledon High School.
Beaumont College was in the house originally built for Warren Hastings (1732-1818), Governor-General of India, though as rebuilt by Henry Emlyn with a massive central portico. The House was purchased by the Society of Novices in 1861. The medal cases have maker's name of "Hunt & Roskell Ltd., late Storr & Mortimer in alliance with J. W. Benson Ltd".
Estimate: 300 - 400 GBP
Edgar Guillet came from the Rouyer-Guillet family, makers of cognac since 1701 and where the Maison Rouyer Guillet, based at the Chateau Rouyer-Guillet in Saintes, was considered as one of the most prestigious Cognac producers. Edgar Guillet joined the French army in 1914 at the age of 17, serving in the 2nd Bn (les Perigourdins), of 412 Régiment d'Infanterie, where he was known as "L'Anglais". He served on several sectors of L'Aisne and Verdun where he was awarded the Croix de Guerre. He was killed in action in a counter attack between Soissons and Rheims on 23 July 1918 for which he posthumously received France's highest bravery decoration, the Médaille Militaire. His brother Albert R. Guillet, was, at the age of 21, the first French Irish Guards officer and survived the War.
Edgar Guillet appears on the Rolls of Honour of both Beaumont College and Wimbledon High School.
Beaumont College was in the house originally built for Warren Hastings (1732-1818), Governor-General of India, though as rebuilt by Henry Emlyn with a massive central portico. The House was purchased by the Society of Novices in 1861. The medal cases have maker's name of "Hunt & Roskell Ltd., late Storr & Mortimer in alliance with J. W. Benson Ltd".
Estimate: 300 - 400 GBP