A Second World War B.E.M. awarded to Able Seaman W. L. Nelson, Merchant Navy, who was in his late 50s at the time of receiving his award - six months later he was fortunate to survive the loss of the Quickstep, which ship was mined in home waters and went down in 2 minutes

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Wellwood Leopold Nelson), good very fine £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to Merchant Seamen and D.E.M.S. Gunners.

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B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1942.

Wellwood Leopold Nelson - some sources give his second name as Sylvester - was born in Jamaica in 1885, and clearly went to sea at an early age, for his replacement Discharge Book commences with an entry for the steamer Ursula Bright in October 1905. And he served in the Mercantile Marine throughout the Great War, originally in the steamer Wapello, and later in the Highlander, Westborough and Newtownards, but he never claimed his campaign awards.

Sporadic seagoing appointments having ensued between the Wars, he joined the steamer Quickstep in January 1941, which ship traded between London and the Tyne. Having then participated in numerous coastal convoys, Quickstep met her end on 11 January 1942, when she hit a mine off Southend and went down in 20 minutes - 13 men lost their lives, including the Master. But Nelson and others were picked up by the drifter H.M.S. Lord Keith and landed at Harwich. He did not, however, return to sea, nor indeed claim his 1939-45 War campaign awards.

Sold with the recipient’s original Continuous Certificate of Discharge, being a renewal book issued following the loss of his first one, with opening entry dated October 1905, together with a file of research.