Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Able Seaman A. V. Lamport, Merchant Navy, who was awarded the King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct for his deeds on the occasion the S.S. Jim was attacked by an enemy aircraft off the Tyne in June 1941

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, all unnamed; together with King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct, oval plastic badge, pin-backed, good very fine (4) £250-300

Albert Victor Lamport, who was born in South Shields in January 1920, commenced his wartime career aboard the Sylvia Beake in October 1940, but had transferred to the S.S. Jim by the time of his King’s Commendation exploits on 17 June 1941, when the latter ship was attacked by a Heinkel off the Tyne - two bombs passed through the ship’s superstructure before exploding in the sea 100 yards away. Jim’s gunners put on a good show and it is believed the Heinkel was shot down.

Lamport, who went on to serve in numerous vessels on coastal convoys, and whose final wartime appointment was in the Empire Asquith, finally came ashore in July 1964.

With the recipient’s original King’s Commendation Certificate, dated 9 September 1941, associated slip and (damaged) forwarding envelope addressed to ‘Mr Albert Victor Lamport, c/o Ministry of War Transport, 19 Akeman Way, Tyne Dock’; with copied research.