A Second War C.B.E., Great War ‘Minesweeping operations’ D.S.C. group of thirteen awarded to Captain E. M. Fall, Royal Naval Reserve, late South African Light Horse, who served in H.M.S. Bellerophon during the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, and commanded the requisitioned Cunard liners Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary during the Second World War, during which he transported over half a million American troops to and from the various theatres of War under hazardous conditions. He was additionally awarded the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society’s Silver Medal for gallantly rescuing a man who was in grave danger of drowning in the River Mersey in November 1938

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with Military Division neck riband; Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1918, the reverse very lightly scratched ‘Fall’; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, with unofficial top retaining rod (1967 Tpr: E. Fall. S.A. Lt. Horse.); 1914-15 Star (Lieut. E. M. Fall. R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. E. M. Fall. R.N.R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star, 1 clasp, Pacific; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1922; Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Marine Medal, 3rd type, silver (To Ernest M. Fall. For Gallant Service. 15/11/1938.) with integral top brooch bar; United States of America, Legion of Merit, Commander’s neck badge, gilt and enamel, unnamed as issued, with full neck riband; together with the related miniature awards for all except the CBE and Legion of Merit, these mounted as worn [the 1914-15 Star represented by a 1914 Star, and the Burma Star lacking the Pacific clasp but with rosette on riband instead], the Second War stars all lacquered, generally good very fine and better (13) £2,000-£2,400

C.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 1 January 1943: ‘Captain Ernest Matson Fall, D.S.C., R.D., R.N.R. (Retd.), Master, Merchant Navy.

D.S.C. London Gazette 24 March 1919:
‘For services in Minesweeping Operations between 1 July and 31 December 1918.’

United States of America, Legion of Merit, Commander London Gazette 25 August 1950.
The official citation, dated 14 December 1948, states: ‘Captain Fall, Royal Naval Reserve, Retired, performed exceptionally meritorious services as Master of H.M.T. Queen Elizabeth and H.M.T. Queen Mary from August 1942 to December 1945. He contributed immeasurably to the successful prosecution of World War II by the United States, in transporting under hazardous conditions more than one-half million American troops to and from the theaters of war. Captain Fall's navigating skill, his tireless energy and his unflagging devotion to duty over long periods of time made possible the safe and swift transportation of unprecedented concentrations of human lives at sea.’

Ernest Matson Fall was born in Oswestry, Shropshire, on 17 February 1883, and having emigrated to South Africa served during the Boer War as a Trooper in the South African Light Horse. Subsequently embarking on a career in the Mercantile Marine, he was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve on 1 January 1912, and was promoted Lieutenant on 8 July 1915, on which date he was posted to the battleship H.M.S. Bellerophon, seeing active service in her at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. On 28 July 1917 he was appointed to H.M.S. Gentian for navigational duties, and on 22 January 1918 was appointed Captain of the Hunt-Class Minesweeper H.M.S. Irvine; for subsequent services in minesweeping operations he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Promoted Lieutenant-Commander on 2 August 1923, and Commander on 31 December 1926, Fall was awarded the Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, and was placed on the Retired List with the rank of Captain on 20 February 1933. He was awarded the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society’s Silver Medal ‘for having gallantly rescued, with the assistance of another, a man who was in grave danger of drowning, in the River Mersey, off George’s Landing Stage, on 15 November 1938.’

A Master mariner with the Cunard shipping line, Fall served during the Second World War in command of requisitioned liners R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth and R.M.S. Queen Mary, that were used as H.M. Transport Ships, conveying under hazardous conditions over half a million American troops to and from various theatres of War. On one voyage in 1943, Queen Mary carried over 16,600 people, still the record for the most people on a vessel. For his services Fall was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and was awarded the Legion of Merit by the United States of America. He was removed from the Retired List on 29 November 1954, and died in South Africa on 21 September 1955.

Sold with the original Bestowal Document for the C.B.E.; the original Bestowal Document for the United States Legion of Merit, together with the accompanying citation; the original Bestowal Document for the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society award, this somewhat damaged’ and various lapel badges, including a Second World War King’s Badge ‘For Loyal Service’ Badge; a South African War Veterans Association lapel badge; a British Empire Service League Nyasaland lapel badge; and a South African Navy League lapel badge.