Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. Including a superb collection of medals to the King’s German Legion, Police Medals from the Collection of John Tamplin and a small collection of medals to the Irish Guards

A Second World War B.E.M. group of nine awarded to Signalman O. C. Mayland, Royal Navy

British Empire Medal (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Sig. Oscar Charles Mayland D/J.31639 R.N.); 1914-15 Star (J.31369 Sig. Boy R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Sig. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence & War Medals; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (Sig. R.F.R.) nearly very fine or better (9) £250-300

B.E.M. London Gazette 1 July 1941: Signalman, H.M.S. Venomous.

M.I.D. London Gazette 16 August 1940: ‘Signalman, H.M.S. Venomous. For good services in Operations off the Dutch, Belgian and French Coasts.’ Decorations awarded to the ship on this occasion included one D.S.O., one D.S.C. and five D.S.M’s.

The destroyer Venomous, in company with five other British destroyers, helped to evacuate 4368 troops from Boulogne under heavy German artillery fire and air attacks on the 23rd and 24th May 1940. It was an operation conducted with extreme gallantry under the severest of conditions and set the scene for the evacuation of Dunkirk the following week. Operation ‘Dynamo’ began in earnest on 28th May, Venomous being heavily involved in the evacuations and badly damaged in air attacks on the 1st of June.