Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Chief Engineer John F. Gilbert, Merchant Navy, decorated by the Belgian Government for services as Chief Engineer of S.S. Sampep, a Liberty Ship under the Ministry of War Transport which supported the D-Day landings on ‘Juno’ beach on 6 June 1944

British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (John F. Gilbert); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last four privately impressed (Chief Engineer J. F. Gilbert Merchant Navy); Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold II, Chevalier’s breast badge, with silver palme; Croix de Guerre, with bronze palme, mounted as worn, good very fine (8) £300-£400

Order of Leopold and Croix de Guerre London Gazette 6 January 1948: ‘In recognition of services during War - Chief Engineer, S.S. Sampep.’

John Frederick Gilbert was born in Liverpool on 18 February 1883. He gained his B.O.T. Certificate of Competency in 1918. During the Second World War he served in the S.S. Baron Belhaven and later the S.S. Sampep. He was afterwards Chief Engineer with the White Star Line and later Houlder Brothers. He died in Liverpool on 23 February 1951. Sold with further research.