Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Lieutenant-Commander G. E. A. Tinnock, Sierra Leone Naval Volunteer Force, late Merchant Navy and latterly a long served Captain & Harbour Master at Freetown

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals, good very fine (4) £100-120

Gordon Eustace Alexander Tinnock was born in Cardiff, South Wales in March 1908 and commenced his career at sea with an Ordinary Apprentice’s Indenture in January 1923. Having then been awarded his Master’s Certificate (for Foreign-Going Steamships) in April 1934 and attended the Merchant Navy Defence Course in 1937, he was serving as Chief Officer the S.S. Hartington on the outbreak of hostilities. Remaining employed in a similar capacity on several foregin trips, he removed to the S.S. Hoxie in March 1941 and, in June following, to the S.S. Elmdene.

Then in February 1942, Tinnock took up appointment as Assistant Harbour Master at Freetown, Sierra Leone, which post led to him joining the Sierra Leone Naval Volunteer Force that September, with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. And there he remained employed until his retirement in December 1958, having served as Harbour Master from December 1951. Tinnock returned to the U.K., settled in Torquay and died in February 1972.

Sold with a large quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s Ordinary Apprentice’s Indenture, dated 1 January 1923; Certificate of Competency as Master of a Steamship; Continuous Certificate of Discharge, with ship appointments for 1927-1941; Admiralty communication regarding the despatch of the above described awards, dated 1 July 1952; British Passport (Sierra Leone), issued at Freetown in January 1954; retirement letter from the Acting Deputy Governor at Freetown, dated December 1958; letters of reference from his Captains (9), covering the period 1929-40; and two or three photographs.