Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War B.E.M. group of eight awarded to Canteen Steward Arthur Covington, Merchant Navy, late Royal Navy

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Arthur Covington); British War and Victory Medals (K.41394 A. V. Covington, Sto. 1 R.N.); Mercantile Marine War Medal (Arthur V. Covington); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star; War Medal, mounted as worn, good very fine (8) £200-250

B.E.M. London Gazette 4 January 1943: Arthur Covington, Canteen Steward, S.S. Strathmore, P. & O. Steam Navigation Company.

Arthur Victor Covington was born in Stoke Newington, Middlesex, on 25 May 1897. He joined P & O in September 1913 as a General Steward, aged 16. He served in the Medina and Mongolia on the Australian run from September 1913 to August 1915, and in H.M. Hospital Ship Egypt from August 1915 to June 1916. His conduct during this early service was variously described as ‘careless and inattentive to duties’ and ‘unsatisfactory’. He joined the Royal Navy in February 1917 as a Stoker 2nd Class, and served in the battle cruiser Repulse fron August 1917 until May 1918, being advanced to Stoker 1st Class in December 1917. He was drafted to the destroyer Shark in July 1918 and served in her until March 1919, being demobilized in May 1919.

Covington rejoined P & O in July 1919 and served as Bedroom Cabin Steward in Prinz Hubertus, Mantua and Narkunda (Australian run), Caledonia (Bombay run with a ‘special’ to China and Japan), Syria (Trooping) January to March 1924, and Moldavia. He next served in China as Saloon Steward, April 1925, ‘recommended for promotion’, Rajputana and Malwa. Promoted to Second Saloon Steward in January 1929, he served in Mongolia and Narkunda, then to Divan Barman at the end of 1929 and finally to Tourist Class Barman, serving in Strathaird and Strathmore, including the 1937 Coronation Review. Once Strathmore was taken over as a Troopship in March 1941, Covington became the Canteen Steward and was awarded the B.E.M. in the New Years Honours List of 1943. Sold with full research.