Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria including the collection to Naval Artificers formed by JH Deacon

An unusual Second World War ‘Champagne Campaign’ B.E.M. group of seven awarded to Chief Air Artificer D. McFadzean, Royal Navy

British Empire Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Military (Air. Art. 3 Cl. David McFadzean, FAA/FX. 78783, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue (FX. 76783, B.E.M., C.A.A., H.M.S. Sanderling), the last with minor official correction, slight contact wear but otherwise good very fine (7) £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late Jack Deacon.

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B.E.M. London Gazette 1 May 1945: ‘For outstanding services during the invasion of the South of France.’

The recommendation states: ‘This Chief Petty Officer, during the whole of the operation has shown outstanding leadership and devotion to duty while in charge of the Squadron maintenance. Working often under most trying conditions, he never failed to produce the necessary serviceability for 252 sorties against the enemy.’

David McFadzean was serving aboard the escort carrier Emperor at the time of the above award, which ship won seven Battle Honours for the period 1943-45, among them ‘Normandy 1944’, ‘South France 1944’, ‘Burma 1945’ and ‘Malaya 1945’.

H.M.S. Sanderling was the Royal Naval Air Station at Abbotsinch, Scotland, which was commissioned in September 1943 and closed in October 1963.