Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War O.B.E. group of five awarded to Commodore Chief Engineer V. T. Millington, Merchant Navy, a long served officer of the British Tanker Company who saw much action on the Arctic run - a rare recipient of the Soviet Medal of Valour, he also won a King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf representative of the King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct; U.S.S.R., Medal of Valour, the reverse officially numbered ‘525540’, in its case of issue, together with its original certificate of award booklet, and monetary vouchers, and a British Tanker Company Officer’s embroidered cap badge , good very fine and better (6) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to Merchant Seamen and D.E.M.S. Gunners.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 9 January 1946.

King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct London Gazette 21 November 1944:

‘For brave conduct when their ships encountered enemy aircraft, submarines or mines.’

Soviet Medal of Valour London Gazette 11 April 1944:

‘For courageous services in the carriage of armaments to the Soviet Union.’

Victor Thomas Mullington was born at Cifn-Y-Budd in January 1890 and is known to have served in the Great War, possibly as a member of the Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary - be that as it may, one newspaper source states his ship was sunk by the Emden. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals.

On the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, he was serving as Chief Engineer Officer in the British tanker Company’s British Merchant, and he remained similarly employed until removing to the British Governor in late 1942, but not before having seen action of Crete.

In April 1943, his engineering skills were much in demand, the British Governor being bombed and severely damaged by German aircraft in the Mishukov anchorage, in the Kola Inlet - this following her passage to North Russia as part of convoy JW53B.

‘Following the enemy attack’, states a newspaper source, his ship broke her back, but, undaunted, he and his staff tackled the major repair operation in dock. Their efforts were so successful that the ship was able to make her way back to port in this country.’

He was awarded the Soviet Medal of Valour and the King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct, and following a brief voyage in Colonel in March 1944, joined his final wartime appointment was in the Empire Milner, in which capacity he was awarded his O.B.E.

Mullington came ashore in 1949, having served as the British Tanker Company’s first Commodore Engineer Officer, and died in London in October 1958; sold with further original documentation, including Foreign Office and Minister of Transport letters regarding the Soviet Medal of Valour, dated in April and November 1944, and an extensive file of research, including official reports from the British Governor’s time on the Arctic run.