Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post war O.B.E. group of six awarded to Captain T. C. Townsend, Merchant Navy, who survived the loss of two vessels in the War, the latter occasion, when he was Master of the S.S. Marylyn, resulting in him being awarded 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, in it Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Burma Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, together with the recipient’s original King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct certificate in the name of ‘Captain Thomas Collier Townsend, Master, S.S. Marylyn’, dated 8 February 1944, and related instructions to wear, extremely fine (6) £250-300

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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King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct London Gazette 8 February 1944:

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

Thomas Collier Townsend was born in Mexico City in February 1898, of British parents, and first went to sea in the summer of 1914, although his name does not appear in Board of Trade records by way of entitlement to the British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals.

Qualifying for his Certificate of Competency as Master of a Foreign-Going Ship in October 1929, he was actually serving as First Officer of the S.S. Marconi when she was torpedoed and sunk by the U-109 during the course of a North Atlantic convoy on 20 May 1941 - he and 38 other survivors were picked up by a U.S. Coastguard cutter after six days adrift in appalling weather, and taken to St. John’s, Newfoundland. In his subsequent report, Townsend stated:

‘I am of the opinion that little better treatment might have been given to officers and crew who arrive in this country in a destitute condition. Some of the men were growing new skin over wounds caused through the hardships experienced in the boats (cold weather, etc.), and were in a very weak condition and unable to walk.’

In December of that year, Townsend assumed command of the S.S. Marylyn, and he was similarly employed when that ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-174 on 30 October 1942, when bound for Trinidad. On bringing U-174 to the surface to survey his handiwork, the U-Boat commander asked after the ship’s master, but was told he had gone down with the Marylyn. Having then once more endured time in an open boat, he and his fellow survivors were rescued by the S.S. Pundit. He was awarded the King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct, following his repatriation via New York.

Townsend returned to sea with command of the Empire Zephyr, and ended the War as Captain of the S.S. Samythian. He finally came ashore in June 1948, following which date he must have received his O.B.E. for other civic services - confirmation of which have yet to be traced; sold with a file of research, including copies of both of the recipient’s official reports in respect of events in May 1941 and August 1942.