Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War M.B.E. group of nine awarded to Paymaster Commander R. N. Da C. Porter, Royal Navy, who served for much of the War in aircraft carriers, also winning a “mention” for “Operation Neptune” and gaining a full-house set of campaign medals and clasps

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; Naval General Service 1915-62, 2 clasps, Palestine 1936-1939, Near East (R. N. De C. Porter, Paymr. Lieut.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, together with his A.D.C’s aiguillettes, minor contact wear, generally good very fine (Lot) £600-800

M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1944.

Reginald Nevill Da Costa entered the Royal Navy as a Paymaster Cadet in 1933 , was advanced to Paymaster Sub. Lieutenant in Ceylon October 1935 and was serving in Malta on the renewal of hostilities. Shortly thereafter, he joined the flotilla leader H.M.S. Inglefield, in which capacity he served off Palestine, and in the North Sea and off Norway, before removing to the Furious in December 1940, this first of three wartime aircraft carrier appointments. Thus his subsequent postings to the Illustrious in the Mediterranean, from October 1941 to November 1942, and the Formidable from November 1942 until late 1943, aboard which latter ship he was present at the Sicily and Salerno landings, and awarded his M.B.E., which insignia he received at a Buckingham Palace investiture in November 1945.

Joining the Staff of the A.N.C.X.F in December 1943, he was recommended for his “mention” by the Flag Officer of “Force S” in the following terms:

‘As my secretary, this officer has borne the brunt of preparation of orders, not only for the actual Operation Neptune, but also for all the exercises of the seven months preceding it. His work has always been of a very high standard which has largely contributed to the smooth running of a large heterogeneous force. Paymaster Lieutenant-Commander Porter also carried out valuable work during the actual build up.’

Porter’s final wartime appointment was as secretary to the Admiral commanding Lothian, which ship had been converted to the Landing Ship H.Q. for the Pacific operations.

Post-war, he served as secretary to the Senior Naval Officer, Greece 1946-49, was promoted to Commander in December 1950 and participated in the Near East operations in late 1956 aboard the Albion, another aircraft carrier, in addition to serving with N.A.T.O. in the early 1960s. Porter died in January 1997; sold with two original portrait photographs and a quantity of research.