Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Lieutenant-Colonel T. J. A. Seale, Royal Marines, who was M.I.D. for the Second Battle of Sirte, 22 March 1942, and served with 40 Commando in Palestine 1945-48

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. Oak Leaf; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (Capt. T. J. A. Seale. R.M.); Coronation 1937, mounted as worn, generally very fine (7) £380-420

M.I.D. London Gazette 8 September 1942.

Thomas Jack Ambrose Seale was born in July 1916, and commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Marines in 1937. He served as Captain during the Second War as part of the Royal Marine complement for H.M.S. Dido. The latter cruiser spent the early part of 1941 on convoy duty in the Atlantic, prior to joining the Eastern Mediterranean Fleet in April 1941. She suffered bomb damage whilst transporting troops from Crete to Alexandria, 29 May 1941, and her Marines accepted the surrender of the port of Assab, Eritrea, in June 1941. The remainder of the year was spent with the vessel being refitted, prior to re-joining the Eastern Mediterranean Fleet at the start of 1942.

The first three months of 1942 were spent on convoy escort between Alexandria and Malta, but on 22 March 1942 the Dido joined Rear Admiral Sir Philip Vian’s force for the Second Battle of Sirte. The British convoy for the latter was composed of four merchant ships bound for Malta escorted by four light cruisers (of which Dido was one), one anti-aircraft cruiser, and 17 destroyers. The Italian force comprised a battleship, two heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, and eight destroyers. Seale was Mentioned in Despatches for the successful action.

After the war Seale served with 40 Commando in Palestine, before advancing to Major and serving at the R.M. Small Arms School, Gosport. Whilst serving at Gosport he was part of the successful Small-Bore Shooting Team, 1951-52. Lieutenant-Colonel Seale died in June 1956.

Sold with copied extracts from R.M. journals, which include photographic images of the recipient.