The Great War O.B.E. and M.i.D. Group of 4 awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Jack Seymour Yule, Royal Signals, late Royal Engineers. Despite leading a successful career in his own right in the Royal Engineers and latterly with the Royal Signals, he is most famously remembered for putting forward the original motto of the Royal Flying Corps – ‘Per Ardua Ad Astra’ – while serving on attachment to the R.F.C., and during a conversation with Colonel (later General Sir) Frederick Sykes at Farnborough in May, 1912, comprising: The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Officer’s (O.B.E.) breast badge, in silver-gilt, reverse bearing hallmarks for London dated 1919; 1914 Star, with old tailor’s copy clasp ‘5th Aug.-22nd Nov. 1914’ upon ribbon (Lieut: J. S. Yule. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, 1914-1919, the latter with bronze ‘M.i.D.’ spray of oak leaves upon ribbon (Major J. S. Yule); Group court-mounted on bar as worn, original ribbons somewhat faded, also offered with matching miniature group and Royal Engineers cap badge, lightly toned, good very fine (9) O.B.E.: London Gazette: 12 December, 1919 – ‘in recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in France and Flanders’M.i.D.: London Gazette: 12 January 1920 – ‘for distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty’ (Commands & Staff)Lieutenant-Colonel Jack Seymour Yule (1889-1956) was born on 29 September 1889 at Jiaganj, Bengal, India, the son of George Udny Yule and Maria Kipling Yule (née Howard). Returning to England during his childhood, he was educated at Ripley Court School, Surrey (as shown in the 1901 Census) and at the Royal Military Academy, and received his first commission as Second Lieutenant with the Royal Engineers on 25 September 1909. Promoted to Lieutenant on 23 January 1912, he is understood to have been seconded for duty with the Royal Flying Corps soon after, during the very first months of its existence (the R.F.C. having been established by Royal Warrant on 13 April that year).While the fine details of this encounter vary across multiple accounts, Yule (described in one account as a ‘young subaltern’) was taking an evening stroll from the Royal Engineers’ Mess on Laffan Plain when he suggested the words ‘Per Adua Ad Astra’ as a suitable motto for the newly formed R.F.C. – taking it from the early pages of Sir Ryder Haggard’s book ‘People of the Mist’, which was very popular at that time in the Mess. Whether he was in conversation directly with Colonel Frederick Sykes, or a brother officer of the R.E. or R.F.C. seems to be unclear, or indeed whether he did or did not suggest the final version of the Latin phrase, but in any case, Yule seems to the undisputed originator of the R.F.C. (and now, R.A.F.) motto. The suggestion went through Sykes up to a committee under Sir David Henderson, who debated and discussed its merits thoroughly before being placed before the King in March 1913, after which it was formally adopted.Returning to his career, he served in the earliest phases of the Great War with the Royal Engineers in France and Flanders in 1914 and was later promoted to Captain on 25 September 1915. Serving on secondment with R.H.A. and R.F.A. (T.F.) units, as stated in the London Gazette, in September 1917 he was appointed G.S.O. (3rd Grade) attached to Headquarters. Other sources suggest that at this time he became involved with the Signals Service, with Yule leading a unit which coordinated all signal service training at both home and abroad (as recorded in the article ‘Communications and British Operations on the Western Front, 1914–1918’, by Brian N. Hall). He was appointed Acting-Major on 21 January 1918, and was confirmed in that rank on 1 February 1919. Yule’s service in France and Flanders was rewarded with an O.B.E. in December 1919, and an additional M.i.D. for ‘distinguished and gallant services’ on 12 January 1920. Serving latterly with the 2nd Lowland Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, he was restored to the T.F. in February 1921 before retiring, having attained the age limit, on 28 May 1921.Taking up a position with the Royal Signals, he was given the rank of Major on 22 January 1925, being given a position as Superintendent of the Signals Experimental Establishment on 3 May 1928, where he remained until 13 March 1931. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 April 1931, he was placed on half-pay on 1 April 1935 and retired on 1 October that year. Placed on the Reserve of Officers during WW2, he attained the age limit on 29 September 1944. He died some years later at Farncome Hall, Surrey, on 3 April 1956.

Estimate: GBP 600 - 800