A Garrard & Co. civil MBE awarded to Mary Euphemia "Effie" Meiggs (Brooklyn, 1864-1948), lacking certification documents, cased

Mary Euphemia Meiggs, known as Effie was born an American but naturalised as a British subject in 1916. Whilst Effie remained unmarried, the family came from considerable wealth and several siblings married into the English aristocracy. Effie was involved in British business as a chairman ('Lakme and Cie' until 1910) but also took a philanthropic role in British society, being a supporter of the Mesopotamian Comforts Fund of which she was appointed general secretary in 1920. Several posters for fundraising and supportive events bear her name. Whilst the supporting papers for the MBE do not survive, it is believed that the MBE was awarded in 1919 for her unfailing support of this organisation.