Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War naval trawlerman’s West Africa operations B.E.M. group of five awarded to Stoker 1st Class T. Atherton, Royal Naval Patrol Service

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Sto. 1 Cl. Thomas Atherton, LT/KX. 105630); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, (copy) clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, the first severely polished, thus fair to fine, the remainder extremely fine (5) £150-200

B.E.M. London Gazette 8 June 1944. The original recommendation states:

‘For consistently good work under arduous conditions during twelve months on the West African coast. During this period Stoker Atherton never failed to maintain a spirit of cheerfulness and this, with his general enthusiasm, was an inspiration to the ship’s company.’

Thomas Atherton, a native of Stockport, Cheshire, was decorated for his services aboard H.M.S. Duncton, a Hills-class naval trawler, for services off West Africa. He received his award at Buckingham Palace on 6 November 1945.

The Duncton receives mention in Lund & Ludlum’s Trawlers Go to War, including her No. 1’s account of a voyage in July 1944, when, in light of leaking boiler tubes, she had to be rigged up with sails, a worrying development in U-Boat infested waters and complicated by the fact her W./T. transmitter failed at the same time. When at length she made port, it was learnt that their next-of-kin cards had already been taken out in preparation for imminent despatch; sold with related research, including a letter to the recipient’s son making a late application for his father’s campaign awards in April 2005.