Accession Number

2015.018.002.001

Alternate Name

box

Description

One black leather covered box. The interior of the case is lined with velvet on the bottom and silk on the lid.

Narrative

This silver and enamel medal in velvet-lined hard leather case was presented to Mary Jean Dunsmuir (1862-1928), AKA Mrs. Henry Croft, in recognition of her appointment as a Lady of Grace in the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.

The honor was bestowed in recognition of her charitable work for the Order during World War I, which involved numerous volunteer activities and personal gifts of money. Directly connected to this medal are documents acquired previously by The Castle Society (see accession 2014.14.13) including an illuminated vellum certificate and associated letters from Evelyn Cecil (1st Baron Rockley), the Order’s Secretary General, and an explanatory letter from Hon. F.S. Barnard, Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia, dated May 30, 1917.

Mary Jean Dunsmuir was active in other charitable work in Victoria, including with the Imperial Order Daughters of The Empire (I.O.D.E). She was also a founding member of the Alexandra Club, Victoria’s first club for women.

The following information is from the website of Government House (Ottawa):

Established in 1888 by Queen Victoria, the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem is a working order of charitably minded men and women whose philanthropy is expressed principally through its two foundations, the St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem and St. John Ambulance.

The Order traces its origins to the Knights Hospitaller, of the Crusades, who served the Abbey of St. Mary’s small hospital for sick pilgrims in Jerusalem in the 12th century. The Order was brought into the Canadian Honours System in 1990. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the Order’s Sovereign and the governor general is its Prior in Canada.

Grades in the Order are:

•Bailiff Grand Cross or Dame;
• Knight or Dame (previously Lady of Grace);
• Commander;
• Officer; and
• Serving Member.

The insignia for all grades of the Order consists of a Maltese cross, embellished alternately in each of its principal angles with a lion and a unicorn. The four arms of the cross symbolize the virtues of Prudence, Temperance, Justice and Fortitude.

History of Use

This object used by Mary Jean Dunsmuir (Mrs. Henry Croft) at her Esquimalt house named Mount Adelaide until her death in 1928. It was then inherited by her sister Elizabeth's son, John William Bryden (1869-1953) of Royston, BC. It was then inherited by his son, the late Gerald Robert Bryden (1913-1992), also of Royston, B.C., and then by his daughter from whom it was acquired in 2013.

Date

1917

Dimensions

1.5 x 16 x 11 cm

Material

Leather; Fabric, silk, velvet; Fabric, silk