United Kingdom. An Order of the British Empire, V Class Member, to Miss Townsend, Assistant Librarian for the Foreign Office, c.1920

Instituted June 4, 1917. In silver, reverse marked SG denoting Garrard manufacture, with London 1918 date marks, measures 48.9 mm (w) x 63.9 mm (h), worn on the original bow ribbon denoting a female recipient, minor wear, in extremely fine condition.

Contained in the original hardshell case of issue, dark blue pebbled leather-look exterior, inscribed "M.B.E." in gold-coloured ink on the lid, inside lid in white satin, padded and maker marked "GARRARD & Co. Ltd. / 24, ALBEMARIE St., LONDON" base with a recessed and slotted medal bed in off-white felt, push release, dual-hinged, measuring 140mm (w) x 128 mm (h) x 25 mm (d), light wear to exterior, in extremely fine condition.

Accompanied by:
Statutes of wear card.

A small newspaper clipping which reads:
"Making Way.
Miss Townshend, who was decorated by the King the other day, has been the Assistant Librarian at the Foreign Office for the last six or seven years. It is not a post usually held by women, and Miss Townshend went to the Foreign Office during the war, but she has been so efficient, her knowledge of foreign languages is so great, and her personality so pleasing, that it is with the greatest regret that she is seen making way for a man who has the right to the work.
She was made M.B.E. in recognition of the services she rendered while holding the post till it could be taken over in the usual way."

A handwritten note which reads:
"This medal belonged to Miss Jan Twonsend, presented to her by King George V, possibly in the early 1920s. Jan lived with her sister Dot in a flat in Battersea, London. Dot acted as housekeeper for her sister and was an amateur artist. After Dot’s death a small hoard of family silver was found under the cloakroom floor-boards."