Exactly what is this and is it worth anything?

[DANGLANGLEY]

I got this at goodwill and I haven't been able to find out anything about it. Any help would really be appreciated. Here is what it says. Pics are below

George the Sixth....by the grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British dominions beyond the seas, King defender of the faith, Emperor of India and sovereign of the most excellent order of the British Empire to Major Harry Kendall Walker, United States Army. Greeting Whereas we have thought fit to nominate and appoint you to be an honorary member of the military division of our said most excellent order of the British Empire. We do by these presents grant unto you the dignity of an honorary member of our said order and hereby authorize you to have hold and enjoy the said dignity and rank of an honorary member of our aforesaid order together with all and singular the privileges thereunto belonging or appertaining.

Given at our court at Saint James under our sign, manual and the seal of our said order this fifteenth day of November, 1945 in the ninth year of our reign.

By the sovereign command

(Signature is here)
Grand Master

Grant of the dignity of an honorary member
of the military division of the order of the British Empire
to Major Harry Kendall Walker

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

I dont know but heres another certificate presented by His Majesty King George VI. http://www.rohcollections.org.uk/re...de Valois Bequest&row=0&searchtype=collection

 

[lostcauses]

Looks to be for printing.

 

[Tony in SC]

I looks like a negative copy, which makes the writing white and the paper black. Tony

 

[DCMatt]

"Order of the British Empire"

DCMatt

 

[ivan salis]

it is a high british honor ( but of the least status* in the pecking order of british royal "honors" )-- which are only able to be bestowed by the ruling king / queen only * -- it is membership in the "order of the british empire "--- " OF COURSE AS A NON BRITISH SUBJECT -- THE HONOR WOULD OF COURSE HAVE TO BE "HONORY" * --- it would be very interesting to find out for what "action" or deed of bravery for which this honor was most likely bestowed for (during WW2)most likely -- the date on itis a trip off that the action was most likely WW2 related -- the history behind it might be quite interesting .

 

[DCMatt]

Here is your guy:

HARRY K. WALKER, 89, a native of Knoxville and a longtime resident of Oak
Ridge, died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002, at his home.
Mr. Walker graduated from the old Knoxville High School in 1930 and from the
University of Tennessee with a bachelor of science degree in electrical
engineering in 1936.
He was a military veteran of World War II and was on the first convoy to
cross the Atlantic. Mr. Walker spent four years in Europe and rose to the
rank of lieutenant colonel. He was a member of the Supreme Headquarters
Allied Expeditionary Force and was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the
British Empire for his work in the area of communications.
He retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory after 32 years in the
Engineering Division.
Mr. Walker was a member of First Baptist Church and had served the church as
a deacon and trustee.
He is survived by his daughter, Sandra Kuykendall and her husband, Charles,
of Knoxville; and two grandchildren, Mike Kuykendall and Trish Kuykendall,
both of Atlanta, Ga.
Dena and Kenneth Justice of Coalfield were considered special friends.
Mr. Walker was preceded in death by his first wife of nearly 40 years,
Elizabeth Lavelle Walker, and by his second wife, Olive "Pinky" Walker.
The funeral will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, in the chapel of
Weatherford Mortuary with the Rev. Larry Dipboye officiating.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at Lynnhurst
Cemetery in Knoxville.
The family requests that any memorials be in the form of donations to First
Baptist Church, 1101 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary.

DCMatt

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I wonder why the family donated it? You could call the family members listed.

 

[Siegfried Schlagrule]

The usual reason the families donate this stuff or sell it to a
pawn shop is that they just don't give a sh** about what he
did and who he was. They were probably a very big
disapointment to him. I have found many World War One
and earlier dog tags in pawn shops. I returned a few of them
and then found them in the same pawn shop again. lovely folks
out there these days. I would still try to return the ones I
found in the ground if i had a clue where they are or they
had an unusual name. siegfried schlagrule

 

[DANGLANGLEY]

Thanks DC Matt. I have looked for info several times and came up with nothing. You nailed it!!!

DANGLANGLEY

 

[ivan salis]

nice bit of work DC matt !! one golden atta boy point .

maybe like many WW2 vets -- harry didn't talk about his war experances * to his family -- ( the battle nightmares , the sweats and such was for "weaklings and sissys" ) so they were taught to shut up / clam up -and suck it up and so they suffered in quiet -- often turning to alcohol or drugs to ease the pain -- or ending it by blowing their brains out .

it possible that his family might not have known the true high honor that this was that was given to him --or felt that that once he was gone , that it was worthless bit of paper ---
(sadly some families do not "hold onto their history" of the family) -- or the belongings of their "dead" elders unless its worth cold hard cash --- while these type of people might know the dollar value of everything they see , they very seldom know the true worth of anything important.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

SOLVED.

 

[creeper71]

I wonder why the family donated it? You could call the family members listed.

They might not have had a choice... If the man didn't have a will or the lawyer messed up the wording (as they did with my grandma) All his belongings where the states property an no one could taking anything from his house an it went to auction..Auction house may not known what it was an it was in a box lot an who ever bought it maynot have known either an send the "junk" from the box lots to Goodwill.

 

[Siegfried Schlagrule]

fleamarkets were not mentioned by me but have found many war trophies at flea markets being sold by the family members. You get loads of different reasons why
but they range from "I never liked him anyways" to Susie Fay got all the "good" stuff and i'm selling what i got so i can go to Wal-Mart. My point is that I only try to return what I've found in the ground. If it's in a shop or dealer or pawn shop it was most likely sold by the family and they obviously don't want it or appreciate it.
siegfried schlagrule