THE MOST DISTINGUISHED ORDER OF ST MICHAEL AND ST GEORGE

THE MOST DISTINGUISHED ORDER OF ST MICHAEL AND ST GEORGE, GCMG, KNIGHT GRAND CROSS INSIGNIA OF SIR COSMO PARKINSON comprising silver gilt collar chain of 26 links of crowned lions of England, Maltese Crosses in white enamel SM & SG ciphers and two pairs of winged lions each bearing a book and seven arrows, one surmounted by a crown and with swivel ring suspender, lacking one white enamel panel of one Maltese Cross, silver gilt, gold and enamel sash badge and silver, silver gilt, gold and enamel breast star with dress sash, two cases of Garrard & Co Ltd and a photograph of Sir Cosmo Parkinson on the steps of the British Consulate in Tonga, c1944GCMG: London Gazette, 11 June 1942.Sir Arthur Charles Cosmo Parkinson, GCMG, KCB, OBE, LL.D (1884-1967) was born at Wimborne Minster, Dorset, the son of S G Parkinson, a surgeon and his wife Elizabeth, nee Trench. A colonial administrator who embodied the best traditions of the Service for practically the first half of the 20th century, his work was especially valuable during World War Two. Seconded for special duties to the Colonial Office in 1942 he travelled, at a time of considerable risk, to far flung colonies as the Secretary of State's personal representative. These visits included the Caribbean and Bermuda in 1942-3, the Gambia, Nigeria, Kenya, Nyasaland, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Aden, Ceylon and Gibraltar after which, at the end of 1944 he retired only to be re-employed a year later to assist in the reorganisation of the Colonial Service resulting in further distant missions to British colonies in the Pacific. He was therefore uniquely well placed to publish his book The Colonial Office from Within, in 1947.