Watch List notes:

GREAT BRITAIN. Lot of three orders : Knight of Royal Victorian Order (KCVO), medal and breast badge (2); Abyssinian Campaign medal. with miniature, awarded to H. J. Blanc (2) ; King's and Queen's messenger Badge, appointed to "H. A. Le Blanc - Carlton Palace". Total (5).
In original case of issue for Royal Victorian Order. Sir H. J. Blanc was the son of Henry Antoine Blanc of Belmont, and Louisa Maurer, daughter of Charles Maurer of Nyon. His father, who usually lived in London, had been appointed King's Messenger by William IV.
H. J. Blanc obtained his Diploma in Medicine in Montpellier (France), followed by its English equivalence in 1859. In 1860, he joined the Bombay Medical Service, taking part in the China War of 1860-1862, after which he was promoted to the rank of Surgeon Major.
In this capacity, he was a member of the Jagir Corps of the Bombay army, in their military campaign in Abyssinia between 1864 and 1868 under the command of General Robert Napier, the future Earl of Magdala. Taken prisoner during the first engagements, he was freed, joined the British troops and took part in the Battle of Magdala in 1868. It was a crushing victory over the Ethiopian army of Emperor Tewodoros II, whose 9,000 Ethiopian soldiers, including the Emperor were killed, compared to just two deaths for the British army.
After returning to India, Blanc was appointed to the posts of Senior Surgeon and Professor of Surgery at Grant Medical College in Bombay. His skills earned him a high reputation. In 1873, he published a book on the treatment of cholera. In 1887, he left the service with the honorary rank of Assistant Surgeon-General. He moved to Cannes (France) and opened a selective consulting practice. Among his patients was the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII), who on his accession to the throne, awarded him the K.C.V.O decoration.
This set of medals is rare and exceptional to find outside of Great Britain, especially the King and Queen's messenger badge.
Of great historical interest.