Auction Catalogue

21 September 2001

Starting at 12:00 PM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1236

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21 September 2001

Hammer Price:
£470

A Great War O.B.E. group of four awarded to Commander C. D. Richardson, Royal Navy, Mooring Officer, Devonport Dockyard

The Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) 1st type, in case of issue; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (Midsn., H.M.S. Theseus); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Midn., R.N. H.M.S. Niobe); British War Medal (Lt. Commr. R.N.) nearly extremely fine (4) £350-400

O.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 16 September 1919. The recommendation states: ‘As Mooring Officer, Lieut.-Cdr. Richardson has rendered great and valuable services in salvage work, which was very frequent in the early part of 1917, and had to be undertaken almost entirely by the Dockyard.’

Charles Dene Richardson was born on 26 August 1879, and joined the Navy from H.M.S.
Britannia in July 1896. He was appointed Assistant Surveyor in June 1901 and was commended for his surveying work on the West coast of Africa. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander in August 1913 and was at Devonport Dockyard throughout the Great War, as assistant to the Captain of the Dockyard and to the King’s Harbour Master. Appointed Divisional Inspecting Officer (Coast Guard) of Cornwall, 1921-23, he returned to Devonport until August 1924, when he retired with the rank of Commander. He was recalled to Devonport Dockyard, as Transport Officer, in August 1939, and was placed on the retired list in November 1944. Commander Richardson died on 5 April 1952. Sold with further research.