Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War B.E.M. group of four awarded to Pumpman and Engine Room Storekeeper M. Readon, Merchant Navy, late Royal Garrison Artillery, in which latter capacity he was awarded the M.M. and Bar in the Great War

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Matthew Reardon); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45. extremely fine (4) £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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B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1943.

Matthew Reardon, who was born in Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry, in July 1887, first saw action in the Great War, when he served out in France as a Sergeant in the Royal Garrison Artillery, onetime attached to 33rd Trench Mortar Battery, and was awarded the M.M. and Bar (London Gazettes 26 April and 19 November 1917 refers).

The next known record of him is as a Pumpman in the tanker British Scout in September 1939, and he remained employed in that vessel without interlude until August 1951, latterly in the rate of Engine Room Storekeeper. Employed off Norway in the early part of the War, the British Scout reverted to coastal work and was present in convoys that attracted the attention of enemy aircraft. Awarded the B.E.M. in the New Year’s Honours List of 1943, Reardon also saw service off Normandy in the summer of 1944. He finally came ashore in May 1952, aged 64 years; sold with copied Merchant Navy service record and further details.