1942 WWII
Orders of St Olav Norway
Made by SPINK London
-Grand Cross Star made 1942 by SPINK London-
Country : Norway
Order name : St Olav
Type/subset: Grand Cross Star
Jeweller : SPINK London
J period :
Owner : Collection Cicoia
Awarded to :
Height (mm): 84
Width (mm): 84
Weight(gr) : 91
Tracking # : N150
Date : 1942
During WWII Spink in London supplied the Norwegian Government with some additional St Olavs for them in 1942. Only very few were made, - and a lot fewer exist today.
12 sets made of this Grand Cross star
8 were awarded
4 are known today
Issued to hight ranking officers of the WWII and they have probably been properly returned to the Norwegian Chancery.
On 7 January 1943, at a ceremony at the Norwegian Embassy, His Majesty the King presented the Order of St Olav to the following British officers. From left: Admiral Sir John Cunningham – Order of St Olav with Star; Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Cork and Orrery – Grand Cross of the Order of St Olav; and Sir Dudley Pound – Grand Cross of the Order of St Olav.
The date 7 January 1943 marks the 60th birthday of Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham. On this specific day in 1943, the three Royal Navy commanders in your query were formally decorated by the Norwegian government-in-exile for their critical wartime services. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
The specific Order of St Olav honours bestowed are verified as follows:
- Admiral Sir John Cunningham: Appointed a Commander of the Order of St. Olav (prior to later being advanced to Knight Grand Cross).
- Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Cork and Orrery (William Boyle): Appointed a Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav for his naval leadership during the Norwegian Campaign.
-Grand Cross Badge made 1942 by SPINK London-
Country : Norway
Order name : St Olav
Type/subset: Grand Cross Badge
Jeweller : SPINK London
J period :
Owner : Collection Cicoia
Awarded to :
Height (mm): 86.5
Width (mm): 61
Weight(gr) : 62.3
Tracking # : N149
Date : 1942
During WWII Spink in London supplied the Norwegian Government with some additional St Olavs for them. Only very few were made, - and a lot fewer exist today. 12 were made of the Grand Cross badge - 4 are known today. Issued to high ranking officers of the WWII and they have probably been properly returned to the Norwegian Chancery. The 12 GC badges have a ring fixed at the top of the crown. These are the only pure Grand Cross Badges produces for St Olav order of Norway - as otherwise the Grand Cross Badge and the Commander Badge of the St Olav Order are identical badges.
WW II - 1942 St Olav Insignia by Spink & Son, Ltd. in London, England
On December 1, 1941 at the time of the German occupation of Norway, the Chancery of St. Olav placed an order for insignia to be made by Spink & Son, Ltd. in London. The Badge was made of gilted silver and enamel and the suspension loop was hallmarked "Spink & Son, Ltd". It was officially not issued with swords, despite being awarded during WW II. The badge is smaller compared to the Norwegian made 1937 issue in gold. The width of the crown is also slightly more narrow than the 1937 issue. One Knight Class 1 reportedly exists with two crossed swords in blue enamel under the crown.
St. Olavs manufactured by Spink & Son, Ltd. during WW II for the Chancellor:
Grand Cross Badge and Star 12 sets - 4 in private collection
Commander with Star (Class 1) 17 sets - 2 in private collection
Commander Class 2 31 sets - 3 in private collection
Knight Class 1 52 sets - 4 in private collection
Knight Class 2 6 sets - 2 in private collection
After the end of WW II in 1945, the insignia of the Order of St. Olav was once again manufactured by Court Jeweler J. Tostrup in Oslo, Norway.
St Olav Commander badge WW II made by Spink & Son, London
The Commander badge is made in two different sizes
Commander 1st class (same size as the Grand Cross Badge).
Size: width = 61 mm, height = 87.6 mm.
Manufacture: 17
Commander 2nd. Class:
Size width = 50.5 mm, height = 71.7 mm and weight = 40 grams.
Manufacture: 31
Knight Size weight = 36.6 and height = 52.4 mm
All insignia are made in gilted silver and enamel. Hallmarket on the reverse of the suspension loop: "Spink & Son, London"
-Commander Star made 1942 by SPINK London-
Country : Norway
Order name : St Olav
Type/subset: Commander Star
Jeweller : SPINK London
J period :
Owner : Collection Cicoia
Awarded to :
Height (mm): 80
Width (mm): 80
Weight(gr) : 65
Tracking # : N367x
Date : 1942
Incl photocopy of original Spink stamper.
WW II - 1942 St Olav Insignia by Spink & Son, Ltd. in London, England
On December 1, 1941 at the time of the German occupation of Norway, the Chancery of St. Olav placed an order for insignia to be made by Spink & Son, Ltd. in London. The Badge was made of silvergilt and enamel and the suspension loop was hallmarked "Spink & Son, Ltd". It was officially not issued with swords, despite being awarded during WW II. The badge is smaller compared to the Norwegian made 1937 issue in gold. The width of the crown is also slightly more narrow than the 1937 issue. One Knight Class 1 reportedly exists with two crossed swords in blue enamel under the crown but it is believed to have been added on by Court Jeweler J. Tostrup in Oslo after the end of WW II.
St. Olav manufactured by Spink & Son, Ltd. during WW II for the Chancellor
Grand Cross Badge and Star 12 sets - 4 in private collection
Commander with Star (Class 1) 17 sets - 2 in private collection
Commander Class 2 31 sets - 3 in private collection
Knight Class 1 52 sets - 4 in private collection
Knight Class 2 6 sets - 2 in private collection
After the end of WW II in 1945, the insignia of the Order of St. Olav was once again manufactured by Court Jeweler J. Tostrup in Oslo, Norway.
St Olav Commander WW II
made by Spink & Son, London
The Commander badge is made in two different sizes
Commander Class 1 and Class 2
Commander 1st class (same size as the Grand Cross Badge). Size: width = 61 mm, height = 87.6 mm. Manufacture: 17
Commander 2nd. Class: Size width = 50.5 mm, height = 71.7 mm and weight = 40 grams. Manufacture: 31
Knight Size weight = 36.6 and height = 52.4 mm
All insignia are made in silvergilt and enamel. Hallmarket on the reverse of the suspension loop: "Spink & Son, London"
-Knight Badge Class 1 made 1942 by SPINK London-
Country : Norway
Order name : St Olav
Type/subset: Knight Badge Class 1
Jeweller : SPINK London
J period :
Owner : Collection Cicoia
Awarded to :
Height (mm): 52
Width (mm): 37
Weight(gr) : 16.6
Tracking # : N152
Date : 1942
During WWII Spink in London supplied the Norwegian Government with some additional St Olavs for them in 1942. Only very few were made, - and a lot fewer exist today.
This is Knight Class 1. 52 sets were made - 4 in private collection today.
It is smaller than the standard Norwegian St Olav Knight.
Similar sold at DNW for 1900 Euro 2015.07.22.
-Knight Badge with swords made 1942 by SPINK London-
Country : Norway
Order name : St Olav
Type/subset: Knight Badge 1 w/swords
Jeweller : SPINK London
J period :
Owner : Collection Cicoia
Awarded to :
Height (mm): 52
Width (mm): 37
Weight(gr) : 16.6
Tracking # : N151 swords
Date : 1942
During WWII Spink in London supplied the Norwegian Government with some additional St Olavs for them in 1942. Only very few were made, - and a lot fewer exist today. This one is very special. Unique as it is the only military knight with swords attached. Could this possibly be a prototype or test version?? The other versions have cut out crowns on 4 Os and perforated middle hinge behind the swords. This turned up at the bankrupcy of Jeweller Tostrup in 1992. They may have gotten it from the Norwegian Government after the war or maybe straight from Spink as a reference. But it exists and is a unique treasure from the WWII era.
-Knight 2 Badge with made 1942 by SPINK London-
Country : Norway
Order name : St Olav
Type/subset: Knight Badge 2
Jeweller : SPINK London
J period :
Owner : Collection Cicoia
Awarded to : Arthur Reginal Gorman Hudson
Height (mm): 52.4
Width (mm): 36.6
Weight(gr) : 16
Tracking # : N318
Date : 1942
This is the silver Knight 2 made by Spink in London for the Norwegian Government in London during WWII due to supply problems for the government. 6 Knight 2 were made and only 2 are known today. By coincidence they both surfaced in 2012. This was awarded to A R Hudson who worked for Red Cross during WWII.
-Miniature GC Badge made 1942 by SPINK London-
Country : Norway
Order name : St Olav
Type/subset: Mini GC Badge
Jeweller : SPINK London
J period :
Owner : LA GALERIE NUMISMATIQUE
Awarded to :
Height (mm): 20
Width (mm):
Weight(gr) :
Tracking # : N386x
Date : 1942
